Weekend Crime Blotter: Restaurant Fights, Subway Scuffles, iPhone Robbery and More

PARK SLOPE – City Employee Nilsa J. Lopez, an off-duty School Safety Agent, was arrested for assault in Park Slope at 8:00 pm on Friday, November 17.

The 50-year old was at Rachel’s Taqueria on 5th Ave when she—along with John Lopez, 67 and Arianna Lopez, 17—attacked a 26-year old woman, punching her in the back of the head, reported the NY Post. All three attackers were charged with assault.

BENSONHURST – Police arrested Derek Smith, 56, of Crown Heights, for assault after a dispute about seating space on a subway turned violent.

On Friday, November 17, a 37-year old woman sat down next to Smith on a northbound N train, when a dispute over seating space broke out between the two, said police. Smith cursed at the woman before punching her in the face and cutting her lip. A straphanging Good Samaritan stepped in and Smith fled at the 18th Avenue Station.

BATH BEACH – The NYPD is looking for a man after an attempted rape in Bath Beach that took place on Wednesday, November 16.

Around 3:00 am, the 36-year old victim was walking near Bath Ave and 20th Ave when a man approached her from behind, covering her mouth with his hand and pushing her to the ground, said police.

The attacked grabbed with victim’s groin under her dress and attempted to remove her underwear, but she was able to fight him off, said police.

The attacker fled and the victim was treated for her injuries at King’s County Hospital. The suspect can be seen on surveillance video below:

Police described the attacker as a man approximately 30-years old, about 5’7″, 160 lbs., with a light complexion. He was last seen wearing a gray coat, black shoes and gray jogging clothes.

EAST FLATBUSH – Police are looking for a man connected to an assault on the 2 train that took place Wednesday, November 8 around 11:00 pm, after a verbal dispute between the suspect and a 33-year old man.

As the southbound train pulled into the Newkirk & Nostrand Ave station, the victim was exiting the train when the suspect struck him in the back of the head with a glass bottle, said police. The victim suffered pain and swelling, but refused medical attention at the scene.

The suspect fled through the station to parts unknown, but was captured on surveillance video prior to the incident:

Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic man, 30-40 years old, with a light complexion and black hair. He was last seen wearing a red sweat shirt, black sweatpants, and headphones.

GOWANUS – Police are looking for the man who stole an iPhone from his victim after using social media to set up a meeting to purchase the device.

The 24-year old victim and the suspect met up across from 568 President Street, near 4th Avenue, to make the transaction when the would-be buyer punched the seller instead of paying him, fleeing westbound on President Street with the victim’s phone, said police.

Surveillance video above shows the suspect, who police describe as a black man, 22-years old, between 5’10”-6’0″ and about 150 lbs., with a slim build and a medium complexion. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black sneakers and thick glasses.

WINDSOR TERRACE – Police are searching for a man who robbed a woman in front of her apartment at Ocean Parkway and Caton Place last month.

In the early hours of Thursday, October 19, around 3:45 am, the man approached his victim, a 31-year old woman, from behind, placing an unidentified object to her neck, said police. He then removed her wallet, containing $50 and some bank cards, from her wallet, fleeing on foot and leaving his victim uninjured.

Surveillance video of the suspect was found as he entered the Fort Hamilton F/G station. Police described him as a black man, 5’6″ and 160lbs with a muscular build. He was wearing a grey sweatshirt, with a black NY Jets baseball cap and sunglasses.

Anyone with information in regards to the above incidents is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.