NYC News - Local News

Red, White and Blue Cap Wearing Man Pepper Sprayed Senior The NYPD is searching for this man in connection with the pepper spraying of a senior inside a Downtown church. -Photo by NYPD By Dan Gesslein Manhattan Voice January 25, 2024 MANHATTAN - A 70-year-old parishoner was pepper sprayed in the face by a man trying to disrupt a religious service at a church near Ground Zero, the NYPD said.  At around 12:30 pm on December 17, a man wearing a red, white and blue baseball cap walked into St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church at 22 Barclay Street and tried to disrupt the Sunday mass. When a 70-year-old parishioner confronted the disruptor, the man sprayed him in the face with pepper spray, cops said.  The attacker ran out of the church and fled in an unknown direction.  The victim sustained minor injuries and refused medical attention at the scene.  The NYPD released surveillance video of the attacker. He is described as a male with a light complexion. He was last seen wearing a b

Arrest in Rape of 10-Year-Old Girl  The NYPD has made an arrest in the rape of a 10-year-old girl in Manhattan. -Photo by NYPD By Dan Gesslein  Manhattan Voice  January 24, 2024  MANHATTAN - A Bronx man has been charged in the rape of a 10-year-old girl who met her attacker on an app, the NYPD said. The suspect lived in the Bronx across the street from an elementary school.  Police arrested 23-year-old Drequan Drayton-Howard. He was charged with rape, sex abuse and endangering the well fare of a child.  The address the suspect listed is across the street from PS 112 as well a playground in the Edenwald section of the Bronx. Cops said Drayton-Howard has no prior arrests.  Cops said the 10-year-old girl had communicated with her attacker through an app. At around 9 pm on January 6, she met the man at Third Avenue and East 122nd Street. Cops said the man took the girl to an apartment and raped her. He then fled on foot.  The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment

Chain Snatcher Robs Teen in Upper Manhattan The NYPD is searching for a man in a puffy coat in connection with a chain snatching. -Photo by NYPD By Dan Gesslein Manhattan Voice January 24, 2024 MANHATTAN - Cops are looking for a puffy coat wearing chain snatcher who robbed a teen in Upper Manhattan.  The NYPD released surveillance video of a suspect wanted in a robbery. The suspect was seen wearing a long puffy black coat that went past his knees. The coat has a large white lined hood that was so puffy it looked like a cushion on the back of the man’s head.  At around 4:15 pm on January 12, a 14-year-old girl was walking in the vicinity of West 148 Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. Cops said the man in the puffy coat ran up behind the teen and snatched a chain off her neck. He then hopped on the back of a moped operated by another man and rode off. 

Two Teens Arrested, More Sought in Smoke Shop Robberies  The NYPD has made two arrests and is searching for more in connection with a string of smoke shop robberies. -Photo by NYPD By Dan Gesslein  Manhattan Voice  January 24, 2024  MANHATTAN - Two teenagers were arrested in connection with a string of robberies of smoke shops throughout Greenwich Village, the NYPD said. More suspects are still being sought.  Police announced the arrest of a 16-year-old male and a 17-year-old male on robbery charges. Both suspects names have not been released because both are minors. At least two other suspects are being sought by the NYPD. In addition, a sixth case has been added to the list of smoke shop robberies.  At around 2 pm on January 19, the crew walked into the Grab & Go Smoke Shop on Avenue of the Americas. The group jumped over the counter and stole marijuana products and $2,700 in cash. The first robbery took place on December 26. At around noon, a 19-year-old employee w

Man Slashed Across the Face in Subway Car The NYPD is searching for a man who slashed a straphanger across the face inside a subway car. -File Photo By Dan Gesslein  Manhattan Voice January 23, 2024 MANHATTAN - A straphanger was slashed across the face inside a subway car in Upper Manhattan, the NYPD said.  At around 7 pm on January 22, a male straphanger was riding inside a Number 1 train as it approached the Dyckman Street Station. Cops said a man walked up to the straphanger and, without warning, pulled out a sharp object and slashed the man across the face.  The attacker ran out of the subway car when the train pulled into the station.  The victim was rushed by EMS to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He was treated and is listed in stable condition. 

Cops Looking for Robbery Crew Targeting Smoke Shops The NYPD is searching for a robbery crew that has hit five smoke shops throughout Manhattan and the Bronx. -Photo by NYPD By Dan Gesslein Manhattan Voice January 23, 2024 MANHATTAN - A group of smoke shop robbers hit a fifth time in Manhattan and the NYPD has released new video in an attempt to capture them.  The latest robbery took place at 9 am on January 15 in Soho. At the time, a 22-year-old female employee was working inside Soho Convenience Smoke Shop on Broome Street when a group of males entered the store.  Cops said members of the group jumped over the counter and forcibly removed marijuana products off the shelves. The crooks hopped back over the counter and ran out of the store in an unknown direction.  Investigators have linked this latest theft to four other smoke shop robberies.

Crooks Robbed Smoke Shop Items in the Village  The NYPD is searching for these men in connection with the robbery of a Greenwich Village smoke shop. -Photo by NYPD By Dan Gesslein  Manhattan Voice  January 22, 2024  MANHATTAN - Cops are looking for a trio of crooks who robbed a Greenwich Village smoke shop.  At around 11:50 am on January 19, three men dressed in dark colors and masks walked into the smoke shop at 333 Avenue of the Americas. Cops said the crew took items off the shelves and then threatened the store’s 21-year-old worker. No injuries were reported.  The crooks fled on foot in an unknown direction.  The first suspect is described as a male with a dark complexion and medium build. He was last seen wearing a green jacket, black pants, and black/gray sneakers.  The second suspect is described as a male with medium complexion and medium build. He was last seen wearing a green and black camouflage jacket, black pants, and black sneakers.  The third suspect is d