Man Bun-Sporting Park Slope Neighbor Charged For Mugging 93-Year-Old Woman In East Harlem Store
Surveillance video via NYPD
26-year-old Broyoan Lopez will not be winning a “best Park Slope neighbor” award any time soon after being charged for mugging a 93-year-old wheelchair-bound woman at an East Harlem clothing store.
Cops said that on Wednesday, September 7 at approximately 12pm, Lopez entered Regines clothing store at 176 East 116th in East Harlem and approached 93-year-old Maria Vasquez from behind. Lopez snatched $600 in cash from inside the great-grandmother’s bra. The money was Vasquez’s social security stipend, Daily News reported.
Lopez, who lives at 128 Park Place (between 6th and 7th Avenues), was arrested Friday, September 9 at approximately 9:45am, a police spokesperson said.
The nonagenarian believes Lopez may have followed her from a Banco Popular branch after she withdrew the $600, DNAinfo reported. She then went to Regines to buy a pair of sandals.
Cops used the surveillance video to identify the man bun-sporting suspect, and subsequently located his Park Slope residence. Daily News reported that Lopez answered his door wearing pajamas when cops showed up.
The police allowed Lopez to change clothing before arresting him. In a less than savvy move, he put on the exact same t-shirt, sneakers, and pants he was wearing during the incident.
Lopez was arraigned on Friday night, held on $25,000, and charged with robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, a police spokesperson said.
The victim displayed her feisty side after the incident. “He only escaped because I have an injured hand,” said Vasquez. “If only I was young, I would have fought with the guy. If I was healthy, I would have grabbed him right there and punched him.”
Following the incident, Regines’ store owner Josh Cohen gave Vasquez a check for $600 as well as the pair of sandals she originally came in to purchase. “I’m sorry for what happened to you,” he told her. “I hope this is going to make you feel better.”
According to his lawyer, Lopez is in need of medication attention and requested he be placed on suicide watch, reported the Daily News.
Lopez is due back in court on Wednesday, September 14.
