Police Make Arrest In Central Park Rape Case

Last night police arrested Omar Hoist, 32 in connection with the rape and strangulation of a 28-year-old Russian woman on Sunday night in Central Park. Hoist - from Tiebout Avenue in the Bronx - has 16 prior arrests including for forceable touching and drug possession according to the police. Hoist was seen on surveillance video walking with the victim along 5th Avenue.  (Photo credit: NYPD)

Hoist was identified as being at Metropolitan Hospital across from where the incident occured.   Members of the Special Victims Squad responded and took him into custody.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said today they were looking into whether or not he was wanted in other attacks.

Kelly said said this afternoon that the suspect was put in front of a line up and that process he believed was on going involving some other incidents.

"What happens is you look at indicators, to descriptions to see if this person was involved and that process is on going," Commissioner Kelly said.

- Geoffrey Croft

Manhattan

Police have arrested a homeless man in connection with a rape in Central Park.  

Omar Hoist, 32, was arrested inside Metropolitan Hospital on Tuesday after receiving a tip. 

He is charged with rape, strangulation and assault.  

Around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, police said a woman was walking on East 88 Street near 5th Avenue when she was approached by the suspect, who began talking to her as they walked toward Central Park.

Police investigate the scene early Sunday morning in Central Park near 100th street between Fifth Avenue and the East Drive.  According to the police, Hoist approached the victim at East 88th Street and Fifth Avenue about 3 a.m. and the two began talking. They entered the park at East 100th Street and later became violent and dragged the victim to a grassy area and raped her. (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) 

The two entered the park near 100 Street, walked along a bike path and then sat on a bench, police said.

That’s when police said Hoist turned violent, dragging the woman into a grassy area and raping her.  She managed to get away and ran to Mt. Sinai Hospital. Police said the suspect told the victim his name was Omar.  

The man was seen on surveillance video walking with the victim before the attack and then again alone after the attack, police said.

Read More:

Police Arrest Homeless Man In Central Park Rape Case, Omar Hoist Charged

With Rape,  Strangulation,  Assault

WCBS  - November 20,  2013

Arrest made in Central Park rape case

WPIX - November 20,  2013 -  By Sukanya Krishnan

Woman Reports Being Raped In Central Park This Morning

A Walk In The Park - November 18, 2013 - By Geoffrey Croft

(Update) Woman Reports Being Raped In Central Park This Morning

UPDATE





























Police investigate an alleged rape early this morning in Central Park near 100th street between Fifth Avenue and the East Drive. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) click on images to enlarge.


Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

A woman reported being raped in Central Park early this morning. 

The alleged incident happened around 4:30 a.m. near 100th Street between Fifth Avenue and the East Drive.

A large hilly area was cordoned off for most for the day as crime scene personnel gathered evidence. 

Evidence marker  # 1  could be seen on the ground near a park bench.

Police have so far refused to release any information except to say that no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. 

The woman told police that a man approached her, pulled her off the path and raped her in a wooded area in the northeast corner of the park, according to the New York Post. 

Update - Police tell gothamist that the woman initially walked into the park with her alleged attacker early this morning—she wasn't jumped or dragged into the park. They also say the incident was reported closer to 3:30 a.m.

We will update as we learn more information.

Read More:

[Update] Woman Allegedly Raped In Central Park This Morning

gothamist - November, 2013 - By Ben Yakas 

Man Beaten, Mugged in Central Park

Manhattan

Police are searching for a group of teens who mugged a man in Central Park on Thursday night.

The 52 year old was walking on a path near East Drive and East 68th Street when the group attacked him at 10:00 p.m., according to WABC news. 

According to investigators, the five or six teens saw him walking by himself and one said, "Take him!" The group jumped the victim, punching him in the head and face.

They removed money and fled the scene, officials said.

The victim was not seriously hurt.

No arrests were immediately made. No further description of the suspect was immediately available.

Parks Dept. Flouts State Law On Officer Training

Jeopardizing Public Safety. The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services notified the Parks Department last year that they were not in compliance with state law concerning the training of its Park Enforcement officers and Rangers, regarding batons and peper spray but the agency has refused to fully comply. The Urban Park Service division, run by Assistant Commissioner Michael Dockett, has continued to ignore State law mandating annual recertification of its enforcement officers.  On Thursday the agency began scrambling to try to get into compliance after being notified of an impending story. (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) click on image to enlarge.

Despite being in violation of the law,  DPR press representative Arthur Pincus, (former NHL spokesperson)  said last week, “Parks is in full compliance with applicable regulations." 

Park reps are even attempting to claim they have until the end of the year to comply despite being in violation for years. 


City-Wide

By Geoffrey Croft

The City's Parks police and rangers have been illegally carrying batons and mace for years NYC Park Advocates has learned.

Many Parks Department PEP officers and Rangers are not qualified to carry the defensive items because they are not receiving training by certified instructors recognized by NY State,  according to documents obtained through a Freedom Of Information Law Request.

The Parks Department is ignoring State law mandating annual recertification.  The parks division responsible for its officers, the Urban Park Service run by Assistant Commissioner Michael Dockett, has continued to ignore the law despite being notified by the State last year. 

The non-compliance not only puts the public and officers in danger but also exposes the city to potential legal liability if a member of the public is injured.

As required by State law all peace officer training have to comply with the Training Guide for Peace Officer Employers written by NY State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

According to the guide PEP and Rangers require special training by a state certified instructor in both baton and oc spray  (pepper spray) as well as yearly training in such. The rosters for these classes are sent to the state for compliance. 

Despite being notified by the state the Parks Department has continued to violate the law and allowed its peace officers to go uncertified. 

On March 20, 2012,  the NY State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) notified the Parks Department that they agency was "not in compliance with the minimum training requirement for peace officers," i.e. their officers were not certified to carry a baton or pepper spray, the two main defensive weapons carried by PEP.

According to New York State Division of Criminal Justice Service (DCJS) documents the Parks Department had initially attempted to claim PEP's only State certified instructor - Daniel Gitel -  had taught classes in 2011 when he did not. As part of its investigation the DCJS then asked the Parks Department to submit the curriculum which they did. That submission however contained inaccurate information. 

The state rejected DPR's claim as "deficient" and DCJS requested that the curriculum be revised to accurately reflect the dates Mr. Gitel conducted training. The DPR then "rescinded" the document they initially submitted. 

"This is in response to your Freedom of Information Law request for a 2011curriculum listing Dan Gitel as conducting Aerosol Device and Defensive Tactics training on 10/26/2011 and 10/28/11 respectively,"  DCJS said in a

Sept. 26, 2012 FOIL request response. 

"Please be advised that the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has no curriculum showing Dan Gitel conducting training on 10/26/2011 and 10/28/11.   Attached is the curriculum reflecting that Dan Gitel conducted training on June 11, 2012 through June 15, 2012.  It is noted that while DCJS did receive a draft submission of a 2011 curriculum listing Mr. Dan Gitel as an instructor on 10/26/11 and 10/28/11, it was deemed deficient and DCJS requested that the curriculum be revised to accurately reflect Mr. Gitel conducting training from June 11-15, 2012. 

The Division no longer has a copy of the initial draft submission, as it was rescinded by NYC Parks and Recreation.  Subsequently, it was resubmitted showing Mr. Gitel conducting training from June 11-15, 2012 which is the curriculum we are providing to you. "

Several sources told A Walk In The Park that last year the Parks Department even prohibited  Mr. Gitel - then the park academy's only instructor qualified to teach defensive tactics and oc spray - from teaching until after they received the state's letter informing the agency they were not in compliance.  In absence of using certified instructors the DPR allowed people who were supposedly qualified by the manufactures to teach the class - which the State does not recognize. 

NYC Park Advocates has also learned that three PEP officers were hurt in 2011 while in the academy being taught defensive tactics class by an uncertified instructor.  The injuries consisted of broken ribs, fingers and back problems. One Capt. was out for two months recovering. The injuries also cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars while they were out of work.  

Numerous officers ripped the agency and the "leadership" of Assistant Commissioner Michael Dockett.  

"These guys are now trying to claim they have till the end of the year to comply. It's ridiculous,"  said an officer, several of which who did not wish to be identified for fear of retribution.

"They have been violating the law for years.  Dockett has the State letter, he knows. Where is DOI (Department of Investigation) in all this? 

They refuse to comply with State law regarding us receiving proper training but they mandate a two-day customer service training, they never forget that. That's all Dockett.  He doesn't care and he's in charge. He isn't made to care.

The penal law changes yearly, but we don't get those updates," the officer continued.  "We get zero legal training after we graduation.  Sometimes some of us will get certain updates on park rules,  if we are being assigned to special details, but that's about it. We don't even have a patrol guide. Its a joke.

We get these memos that are written by five-year-olds where English is a fourth language. A lot of them don't even have the name of who wrote them or the agency name or even a city.  They don't want their names on it but they expect us to follow the orders. It's laughable."

"There is no incentive to stay," said another officer. 

"Moral is at an all time low. There is no professionalism and accountability. And on top of that we risk our lives and they pretend that all we are 'eyes and ears.' They should be ashamed of themselves."

Read More:

Advocates: Parks Dept. cops should be trained before they're issued 

pepper spray and batons 

New York Daily News  -  November 11, 2013  - By Ginger Adams Otis  

Two People Shot At Bryant Park Skating Rink - Police Arrest 16-Year-Old

One of two victims shot on Saturday night at the ice skating rink at Bryant Park is carried into an ambulance.  The victims were Javier Contreras, 20, and Adonis Mera, 14. Police have arrested 16-Year-old Corey Dunton, and charged him with attempted murder and other charges. (Photo: Alec Tabak For New York Daily News)

Manahttan

Police charged a Bronx teenager with attempted murder and other charges Sunday in the Bryant Park ice rink shooting after he issued a stunning Facebook confession and suicide threat for the Saturday night melee that wounded two carefree skaters, according to the New York Daily News. 

 Cops nabbed suspect Corey Dunton, 16, after an hour-long standoff at his apartment building while the alleged gangbanger was posting to his Facebook page from a mobile device.

FACEBOOK

Police arrested Corey Dunton 16, on Sunday for the Saturday night shooting of Javier Contreras and Adonis Mera at Bryant Park.

“Feds trien [sic] kick down my door its over were do i go from hereeeee … [I don’t know] wat to do i f----ed up, ” he posted about 9 a.m. on Sunday., 

Minutes later, he added: “These n----s gunna have to take me out take my life … I aint goin to jail i reather take my life!!”, A day before the senseless shooting, the teen suspect had gone to social media to boast about stirring trouble at the Midtown tourist attraction.

A victim lies on the ice after being shot at the Bryant Park rink.

Sources said cops nabbed Dunton, who has several prior arrests, after they were tipped off by a witness and found his shameless Facebook page — which features pictures of him, arms extended, pretending to hold a gun.

The cowardly creep didn’t show his face for nearly an hour after cops came banging on his door — because he was too busy updating his status.

Police charged Dunton on Sunday night with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. Sources said he was arrested six times as a juvenile; all of the cases are now sealed. 

The frenzied Facebook posting came hours after Dunton apparently got into a beef just outside the rink with Javier Contreras over the 20-year-old’s pricey Marmot Mammoth parka, commonly known as the “Biggie.”   

Read More:

Robbery Attempt Preceded Ice Rink Shooting, Police Say  

New York Times - November 10, 2013 - By J. David Goodman and Liz Robbins

Cops charge 16-year-old in Bryant Park shooting that he allegedly bragged about on Facebook
New York Daily News - November 10, 2013 - By Mark Morales, Edgar Sandoval, Simone Weichselbaum and Corinne Lestch 

Bryant Park ‘shooter’ all but confessed online 

New York Post  - November 10, 2013 - By Larry Celona, Jamie Schram and Bruce Golding

Blood on the Bryant Park ice; Innocent teen shot
New York Post -  November 10, 2013  -  By Larry Celona, Elizabeth Ferguson and Matt McNulty

Prospect Park Alliance In Lakeside Skate Rink $ Windfall

A rendering of the two rinks at Lakeside,  part of a 26 acre $74 million redevelopment project in Prospect Park. The project,  along the southeast shore of the park’s lake,  has been troubled by delays and money issues.   Approximatly two-thirds of the budget came from city and state funds. The new facility replaces the Kate Wollman Memorial Rink which opened in 1961.

The financial windfall predicted for the Prospect Park Alliance is coming to fruition. Under a new deal the Prospect Park Alliance will run the complex under  a licence agreement with the city.   The Alliance will be required to pay the City of New York nothing for the first year and just $ 100, 000 annually beginning the second year according to the terms of the sole source concession agreement the city "negotiated"  with the influential group.  The Parks Department is now trying to claim the Alliance will receive the same amount of revenue from the Lakeside facility as they did with Wollman Rink in the early years - whatever that means. 

Parks sources have identified a December 21st opening date.  The rink will be open for limited hours during the week  Monday - Thursday - in order to maximixe revenue and reduce costs.   The deal goes before the mayoral controlled Franchise and Concession Review Committee on Tuesday,  November 12th.  

Brooklyn

By Geoffrey Croft

Call it a parting gift from the Mayor.  The Bloomberg Administration is getting ready to award a sweet-heart sole source deal to the Prospect Park Alliance to run the $74 million Lakeside Center project.

The Alliance will be required to pay the City of New York nothing for the first year and just $ 100,  000 beginning the second year of  a  seventeen year deal  according to the license agreement obtained by NYC Park Advocates.   

The annual fee to the city increases by  just a thousand dollars a year over the life of  the deal  culminating with $ 116,  097 in the year 2030.

The lucrative license agreement -  potentially worth tens of millions of dollars over the life of the agreement - seeks to reward the public/private partnership handsomely for raising $ 19 million of the Lakeside Center's $ 74 million dollar budget, while also 

requiring  the group to continue to raise private money for the general operation of the public park which they have done for years.

Approval for years 3 through 17 are continent upon the Alliance renewing it's maintenance & operation agreement for the park which expires in July 2015. 

The indoor rink's newly installed dasher boards under the dark blue painted ceiling, "incised with a constellation of big silvery curlicues, like giant skate marks," -  frame the dance floor and cocktail area for The Prospect Park Alliance's Lakeside Ball gala held on Saturday night.  Tickets for the event began at $ 425 and went up to $ 50,000 for a table of ten. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click in images to enlarge

The city "negotiated" the sole source concession agreement with Prospect Park Alliance to operate and maintain the Prospect Park Lakeside Center including two skate rinks (one covered and one open) during the winter, a roller rink during the summer, a café with three adjacent private event rooms, boat rentals and  bicycle rentals. 

The agreement also allows the group to operate mobile push carts in the park near the facility. 

The City has also forgone the standard  "vs. a percentage of gross receipts, whichever is higher" language  found in Parks Department revenue licensing contracts. 

The flat rate locks in a low return to the city regardless of revenue generated from the facility. 

The City is also paying all utility costs - electricity,  water,  gas,  heat and sewer costs and coolant associated with the operation of the 26, 000 sq. ft. ice center.  (Operators of the Cafe however will be responsible for electrical and gas costs.)  

In other unusual provision in the agreement, if gross receipts exceed seven million dollars annually the City and the Alliance,"to confer in good faith,"  agree to discuss whether or not the Alliance should pay for utility costs. 

The Alliance is expected to make out handsomely in the new deal  as revenue at Lakeside are expected to dwarf the former Wollman Rink's deteriorated single rink ice facility earnings. 

The city received more than 45 percent of the rink revenue during Wollman's last year of operation.   In 2010,  Wollman generated $512, 000 in revenues with $232, 000 from entrance fees heading back to the city’s general fund and the remaining $280, 000 from other concessions going to the Alliance for park maintenance. Under the new plan,  the Alliance would collect all the revenues and give the city back a small flat and keep the rest ostensibly  towards maintaining the park.

The Prospect Park Alliance refused to respond to several requests seeking comment including providing Lakeside revenue projections.

By comparison in Central Park Donald Trump operates two popular ice rinks that raised $6.6 million in revenues in 2011. The city got back $2.2 million for its general fund,  which pays the expenses for city services.

The rink will be open limited hours during the week  Monday - Thursday - just twenty hours - in order to maximize revenue and reduce costs.    The rinks will be open for 26 hours on the weekends. 

The project has been plagued by cost overruns, delays and a loss of funding. 

The facility is expected to open a few days before Christmas. Parks sources have identified a December 21st opening  date. 

The deal goes before the mayoral controlled Franchise and Concession Review Committee on Tuesday,  November 12th.

Bloomberg family friend Elizabeth "Betsy" Smith - head of revenue and marketing for the Parks Department will sign the deal for the City,  along with Prospect Park Alliance head, Emily Lloyd.  

The Parks Department also refused to reveal projected revenue for the Alliance and instead dumped a statement meant to deceive and without providing any information.   

"After paying the fee to the City per the concession agreement, we expect the Prospect Park Alliance will receive the same amount of revenue from the Lakeside facility as they did with Wollman Rink in the early years. All revenue generated from Lakeside and the operator will be used to support park programming and maintenance," the agency said.

Each year  the City's elected officials allocate a fraction of the funds desperately needed to properly maintain, operate, secure, and program our  public parks.

The city continues to try and abdicate its responsibilities by entering in these so called public/private agreements that officials are not only allowing but actively encouraging.  They are increasingly resorting to these pay-to-play funding schemes.   

These deals hand over enormous power and decision making authority to these groups with little transparency and accountability on what is supposed to be public land.

Influential park groups are increasing relying on revenues generated from parkland being diverted from the City's general fund into their coffers. 

Abraham Lincoln admiring the new view. The $ 74 Million dollars includes the restoration of the long-neglected shoreline, esplanade and Concert Grove. New walking and jogging paths, picnic areas, lawns and a boat dock. It also recreates Music Island, now as a nature preserve, with bald cypress, duck potato and other native trees and plants.

Abraham Lincoln holds the Emancipation Proclamation in Henry Kirke Brown's beloved statue.  Mr. Lincoln points to the words “shall be forever free.”    In 1895 the sculpture was moved from its original location - in the elliptical plaza adjoining Prospect Park, today known as Grand Army Plaza - to its current location.  For the last 50 years, the statue had faced a chain-link fence near the old Wollman Rink.

Recent financial decisions by the Prospect Park Alliance involving the privatizing of public land park for commercial uses have come under intense public scrutiny. The Alliance made peanuts from the controversial GoogaMooga booze event which destroyed parkland for two consecutive years and prevented the public being able to access dozens of acres of parkland for months. The City recently caved in and decided not to allow the event to return to the park after two years of public outcry.

The City's decision to allow the Alliance to privatize the beloved Boathouse  - the Audubon Center education center on weekends has also outraged local residents.  The group pocketed $ 200,000 in just a few months this year from renting out the historic building which prohibits public access. 

Tickets  for the Prospect Park Alliance Ball,  the non-profit's high-priced gala held on Saturday night,  began at $ 425 and went up to  

$ 50,000 for a table of ten.

Other Details include:

Ice Rink Admissions prices for are set for  $ 6.00 on weekdays, $ 8.00 on weekends and holidays, and ice skate rental is $ 5.00 at all times. 

Beginning next year the rink will be required to be open no later than November 30th.

Minimum Public Hours of Operation - Ice Skaking

Friday - 3pm to - 9pm
Saturday - 10am- 10pm
Sunday - 10am - 6pm

Addtionally another 20 hours per week shall be provided Monday - Thursday on one and or/other of the two rinks. 

The  $ 54 million dollar project also includes  the restoration of 26 acres of the Prospect Park Lake area area including its shoreline, adding five acres to the Lake and three acres of green space in the area. 

The Waterplay feature will be open from Memorial Day though Labor Day daily from 10am, to sunset.

The 54 page License agreement also contains three pages of Vending Machines Standards

Read More:

Prospect Park Alliance Looking For $ Windfall In $74 M Lakeside Center Ice Rink

A Walk In The Park - May 18, 2012

Bloomberg gives Prospect Park a nice farewell gift

New York Post - November 10, 2013 - By Rich Calder

Prospect Park ice rink deal not so slick for city: advocate

New York Daily News - November 10,  2013 -    By Reuven Blau