Crime Watch UWS 05.16.24

Violent Shoplifting Suspect Arrested in Key Food Store Incident

Police reported that at 5:15 p.m. on April 29, a 37-year-old man entered the Key Food store at 2401 Broadway at West 88th St., took listed items and tried to leave the location without paying. A loss prevention officer approached the suspect, who then swung an orange metal pole at the officer but did not cause any injuries. Jonathan Espaillat was subsequently arrested and charged with robbery. The stolen food items amounted to $24.

Police Seek Teen Girl’s Abusive Male Acquaintance

A 15-year-old girl told police that at 1:10 a.m. on April 30, a male friend was waiting for her outside 135 West 96th St near Amsterdam Ave. She told him to leave her alone and stop following her. The boy continued following her, however, and added, “I’m not going to let you go home in peace!” She then told him she was going to call 911, at which point the boy snatched her phone from her hand, threw her on the ground and fled on an electric bicycle. The victim was feeling pain after the incident, while a search for the boy proved fruitless. The value of the stolen cell phone was $50.

Man Arrested After Trying to Rob Delivery Man

A 30-year-old man reported that at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, he was making a food delivery to 5 West 103rd St. at Central Park West. When he returned to his delivery bike he saw a 59-year-old man taking items of cargo off the vehicle. The two men began struggling for the items when the older man pulled out a small silver knife, saying, “I’m going to stab you!” He then threw the items he had stolen on the ground and fled into the 103rd St. Central Park West subway station. Fortunately, no one was injured, and Tyrone Blackson was arrested and charged with robbery. The stolen food items totaled $34.

Senior’s New Car Money Disappears in Wire Transfer Scam

An 86-year-old man living on Central Park West stated that at 11 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, he had been negotiating with a dealer named Pamela Anderson at Stevens Ford of Patchogue, NY, to buy a car. He sent an ACH money transfer to her for $38,692, but the transfer failed. He then emailed Anderson asking how he could send a regular wire transfer and received an e-mail with new instructions. He then sent $38,692.50 to the new account listed, and the transaction went through. He called Anderson to alert her to the transfer, but she said that she had never updated her wire transfer instructions, her e-mail had been hacked and the dealership still had not received any money from the senior.

Woman’s Federal Tax Check Redirected to Unknown Individual

An 80-year-old woman living on West 90th St. told police that at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, she had mailed a $25,000 check to the IRS for her tax payment, using the post office at 700 Columbus Ave. between West 94th St. and West 95th St. Then at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 29, 2024, she got a letter from the IRS stating that she had not paid her taxes and owed a penalty. Ultimately, she discovered that her check to the U.S. Treasury had been altered, re-directed to one Nathaly Rivera Guichairdo, a person unknown to her, and cashed on Thursday, May 25, 2023. It was also unknown where or by what method the check had been cashed.