Violence Explodes in City Pools -14 Arrested During Hot Weekend

A police car in front of Lasker Pool in Harlem on Saturday evening. NYPD and PEP were kept very busy over the long hot weekend. (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on image to enlarge.

By Geoffrey Croft

Update

Fourteen people were arrested over the hot weekend as violence exploded in Parks Department pools across the five boroughs.

In Queens a woman was sexually assaulted, in upper Manhattan two NYPD officers were injured when a group resisted arrest, in Brooklyn a fifteen year-old girl was slashed with a knife, and a lifeguard - also in Brooklyn - was attacked in separate incidents over the weekend, according to crime data compiled by NYC Park Advocates.

Police arrested 14 people, including eleven on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday.

West Brighton and Tottenville pools on Staten Island both had to be shut down for periods on Friday due to disorderly conduct according to law enforcement sources.

Incidents Included:

• Fisher Pool - Queens. July 22, 2011. NYPD arrested Ursus Castaneda, a 36-year-old hispanic male for forcible touching/sexual abuse of a 31-year-old female swimmer in the pool at approximately 7:35 P.M. The perpetrator was transported to the 115th Precinct where he was charged with sexual abuse, forceable touching, and harassment.

• Sunset Pool - Brooklyn: July 22, 2011. NYPD arrested 2 males (ages unknown) for assaulting a Lieutenant lifeguard. The males were transported to the 72nd Precinct. The lifeguard refused medical attention.

• Highbridge Pool - Manhattan - July 22, 2011. NYPD arrested 4 males (ages 17, 21, 21, and 22) stemming from disorderly conduct at approximately 5:30 P.M. Three of the males were charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental process. One 21 year old male was issued a summons for disorderly conduct and released. Two NYPD officers who responded were injured — one male tore ligaments in the knee and a female officer possibly fractured a finger. The pool was closed for a period but later re-opened.

• Lyon’s Pool - Staten Island - July 22, 2011 at approximately 6:30 P.M. NYPD arrested a 16 year old male for disorderly conduct. He was transported to the 120th Precinct & issued a Criminal Court summons for disorderly conduct & released.

• Thomas Jefferson Pool - Manhattan - July 22, 2011 NYPD removed 2 switch blades found inside the pool at approximately 7:45 pm No arrests were made.

• Lasker Pool - Manhattan - July 22, 2011. NYPD arrested a 20 year old male for disorderly conduct at approx 7:00 P.M. The male was transported to Central Park Precinct.

• Van Cortlandt Pool - Bronx - July 22, 2011 NYPD arrested 2 males (ages 18 & 23) for disorderly conduct at approx. 7:45P.M. The males were transported to the 50th Precinct and issued criminal court summonses for disorderly conduct.

• Howard Pool - Brooklyn - July 23, 2011. NYPD arrested a male, approximately 20 years-old stemming from a fight at the pool at approx. 5:30 P.M. No other information was available this time.

• Lasker Pool - Manhattan - July 23, 2011. A 20-year-old male was arrested for failure to comply with an officer and issued a criminal court summons for disorderly conduct. He was transported to the Central Park Precinct.

Kosciuszko Pool - Brooklyn. July 24, 2011. 2:15 P. M. NYPD arrested a 16-year -old female for cutting a 15-year-old female with a knife. According to a law enforcement source, the altercation began inside the pool and spilled outside. The girls continued arguing until a knife was pulled and the younger girl was cut. NYPD were on the scene and quickly arrested the assailant and transported her the 79th Pct. The victim was transported by EMS to Hoodhull Medical Center in stable condition.

On Friday the city announced it was extending pool hours to help alleviate the heat wave.

New York City ranks dead last for a high density city in the amount of public pools.