Jogger Slashed In Van Cortland Park

Bronx

By Geoffrey Croft

A Bronx resident was slashed while jogging in Van Cortlandt Park on Tuesday night according to police.

The victim, 29, was running in the park near Putnam Trail South at approximately 7:30 p.m. when two black two males in their mid twenties approached him.  One of the attackers slashed the runner on his right cheek with an unknown weapon.  He suffered a 2-inch laceration. 

The victim refused medical attention.

The assailants fled into the woods.

One of the attackers was described approximately 6 feet tall with a small afro and wearing a red Adidas hooded sweatshirt. 

Police have no description of the second assailant.

The incident occurred within the confines of the 50 Pct. 

Police Search For Suspects Wanted In Robberies In Two UWS Parks

Police are looking for suspects wanted in connection with robberies in Riverside and Mornignside Parks in the early hours of March 6th.  Police released video and photographs of suspects. 

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

The New York City Police Department is asking the public for assistance with locating and identifying the individuals wanted in connection to several robberies that occurred on Sunday March 6th.

At approximately 1:40am inside Morningside Park, located at Morningside Drive and West 116 Street,  a 23-year-old male was approached from behind by three individuals who pushed him to the ground and demanded his property.  

Once on the ground one of the  assailants individuals went through the victim’s pocket and removed his wallet, an undetermined amount of cash, and a cellphone. The individuals fled westbound towards Morningside Drive.

The Incident occured within the confines of the 26 Pct.

Police released video of suspects wanted in the March 6th robbery and attacks. 

Approximately a half hour later at 2:21am the three assailants approached a 22 and 23-year-old male sitting on the bench inside Riverside Park, located at Riverpark Drive and West 108 Street.

An individual punched one of the victims in the face while another assailant took property from the victim’s pocket.  The individuals fled southbound from inside Riverside Park.

The Incident occured within the confines of the 24 Pct.

Approximately a half hour later at approximately 2:40am a 27-year-old male was walking northbound on Westend Avenue and West 73 Street near when he was approached by the three individuals from behind. One of the individuals pulled the victim by the jacket collar and tried to take his bag. An unknown male saw the incident and shouted at the robbers prompting them individuals to flee southbound on Wesstend Avenue.  No property was removed.

The Incident occured within the confines of the 20 Pct.

Individual 1: approximately a 20-year-old male, Black, 5'8"tall, 180 lbs, medium complexion, last seen wearing a red jacket, black jeans and a baseball cap.

Individual 2: approximately a 20-year-old male, Black, 5'9",tall, 160 lbs, medium complexion, slender build, last seen wearing a black jacket, black jeans, black hoody, and black sneakers

Individual 3: approximately a 20-year-old male, Black, 6'0"tall,170 lbs, medium complexion, gray jeans, blue jacket, and a gray striped hoody.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident 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.

FDNY Called To Game Of Thrones Low Budget Union Sq. Promo Event

A firefigher checks the permit for a smoke machine from a Game of Thrones promo event in Union Square Park this morning while two HBO event officials look on.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC PArk Advocates) Click on images to enlarge.

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons are no match for the FDNY. 

New York’s bravest threatened to turn off the smoke machine being used as part of a Game of Thrones themed promotion after being called to Union Square Park to investigate.  

They arrived at HBO’s low-budget but much hyped promo event after receiving a call this morning of smoke coming from the southern end of the park at 14th Street.

When firemen arrived they observed smoke spewing from a replica of an overturned garbage can lying on its side.

Smoking Garbage Can.  The Fire Department was called to Union Square Park this morning. 

“What is the smoke for,”  a fireman asked. "Is there anyway you can not do it?”

An HBO official who said she was in charge explained the scenario while a Fire Department official checked the permit. 

“The permit checks out,” the fireman said to his colleagues.

“We’ll let it go for now but If we keep getting calls we’re going to have to shut it down,” he warned the HBO event staffer after getting her name.

The bare bones set consisted of a single smoke machine; a small scale lamp post, a broken bench, a replica of broken up hexagon block sidewalk,  and  two large dragon footprints made to resemble skid marks.

Staffers often outnumbered onlookers for much of  this morning's  low key event to promote the DVD release Game of Thrones (GOT) Season 5.

“Sorry for the mess,” an event personnel explained. 

“A dragon landed here last night and we are cleaning up after him,” he repeated over and over.  

The barker then instructed people to post photos of the event to Twitter using a certain GOT hashtag.  

 Firefighers arrive at the scene. 

Event staff reminded the public of another event later this evening at Harold Square and hinted that, “special guests”  - i.e. cast members - would be in attendance.

At least one person not connected to HBO’s hit show had hoped for a larger crowd.

NYPhotobus set up a voter registration location a few feet away complete with GOT disco-themed music and “House Sanders” posters.

After five hours of being illegally parked in a turning lane police asked the bus to move on but not before they signed up 30 new voters NYPhoto reported.

 

Season 6 of HBO's wildly popular series premieres on April 24th.

Read More:

‘Game of Thrones’ dragon promo is a total dud
New York Post - March 15, 2016 - By Brooke Baitinger and Sophia Rosenbaum