Union Sq. Park Hammer Suspect Tied To Earlier Madison Square Park Attack And Two Others

There was a heavy uniform police presence in Union Square Park on Tuesday evening.

Police have identified a Bronx man wanted in a series of hammer attacks in Manhattan on Monday.  (Photos: Geoffrey CroftNYC Park Advocates) Click on Images to enlarge

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

Police have identified the man wanted in a series of hammer attacks.

Police believe the hammer-wielding man who attacked a woman in Union Square Park on Monday night also struck a 34-year-old woman two hours earlier in Madison Square Park.

The suspect wanted in Monday's Union Square Park attack is also tied to an earlier assualt in Madison Square Park. (Photo: DCPI)


Authorities now believe he is responsible for at least four attacks within six hours hours. 

There was a heavy uniform police presence in Union Square Park on Tuesday evening.

Wanted posters could be found on virtually every lamp post surrounding the park. 

The twenty-eight-year old victim was sitting alone on a park bench by Evelyn's Playground in Union Square Park when she was attacked from behind by the deranged man.

 “I was walking to the train station in Union Square and someone came up behind me and yelled something and then the next thing I know I was struck in the head,  she told CBS news.  

"I initially I thought I got punched, but later on when I looked at my hand I was bleeding.”

She has four staples in her head but is expected to be alright.

Police have identified a Bronx man with a psychological and arrest history as a suspect, the Daily News reported.  

According to the paper they were able to get his name through a facial recognition hit from a photograph of the attacker.



Police on patrol near Evelyn's Playground in Union Square Park where a twenty-eight-year old victim was attacked from behind by the deranged man.

Read More:

Teen, 17, Robbed At Gun-Point In Hudson River Park

A 17-year-old male told police he was attacked by a man with a gun in the bathroom at Pier 45 located between 10th and Christopher Streets & West Street in Hudson River Park. 

Manhattan

A 17-year-old told police he was robbed and struck in the forehead by a man wielding a pistol, NYC Park Advocates has learned.

The incident occurred inside a bathroom near Pier 45 today about 11:15 a.m. 

 The victim sustained a cut to his forehead. 

 The victim was inistailly being uncooperative according to a law enforcement source.

 No arrests have been made. 

- Geoffrey Croft

Woman, 28, Attacked With Hammer In Union Square Park

Suspect wanted by police in last night's attack in Union Square Park.  He is described as a male black, 30’s, medium build, wearing a black waist length jacket, dark-colored baseball hat, dark jeans, black sneakers, and wearing a black backpack.

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

A twenty-eight-year old woman sitting along on a park bench by Evelyn's Playground in Union Square Park was viciously attacked by a deranged man last night.

The woman was sitting across from the suspect who was smoking in the park.  She got up and started to walk away when the man approached her from behind and suddenly hit her in the head with a hammer. 

The assailant exited the park at 16th street heading west bound. 

Five minutes later the man struck another woman in the head a block away on W. 16hth Street between 5th & 6th Avenue.

DCPI released following information:

The New York City Police Department is asking the public for assistance in locating and identifying the suspect who is wanted for assaults which occurred within the confines of the 13 Precinct. 

Details are as follows:

On Monday, May 11, 2015 at approximately 7:36, police responded to Union Square for a 911 call of an assault.  Upon arrival, officers determined that a 28-year-old female was sitting on a park bench inside the park when an unknown male removed a hammer from inside of a bag and struck her in the head.  EMS responded to the location and transported the victim to Lenox Hill Hospital in stable condition. 

Approximately 10 minutes later, a 33-year-old female walking westbound on West 17 Street, in the vicinity of 45 West 17 Street, when she was approached by an unknown suspect from behind and struck in the back of the head causing a scalp injury. EMS responded to the location and transported the victim to Lenox Hill Hospital in stable condition. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. The suspect fled in an unknown direction. Both victims were treated and released.

The suspect is described as a male black, 30’s, medium build, wearing a black waist length jacket, dark-colored baseball hat, dark jeans, black sneakers, and wearing a black backpack.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

McCarren Park Pool Bathhouses Falling Apart - City Not Fixing It

White stains, identified as "excessive efflorescence" observed in many areas of the building's facade - a result of lime leach from the mortar - was the first indication of the problems according to the report.   The problems identified in the scathing report have not been addressed after more than a year and a half.  The firm found that poor workmanship during construction as well as deficient design and detailing are the main causes.  The white stains on the building's facade could cleary be seen on opening day in June 28, 2012. It has since gotten worse. (Photo: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on image to enlarge.  

Brooklyn

By Geoffrey Croft

The McCarren Park Pool bathhouses are falling apart.  

"The appearance and the condition of the building is unacceptable,"  according to a report by the engineering firm hired by the city, and obtained by NYC Park Advocates. 

In 2013 the Parks Department hired engineering consultant HAKS to evaluate the causes of the excessive water infiltration and other issues that has plagued the McCarren Park Bathhouse within months of its opening after a $50 million renovation by the Bloomberg administration.  

The firm issued a scathing Investigation Report in December 2013 but the city has not moved to fix the issues.

Among the findings the report found severe signs of moisture infiltration including water leakage through the roof and facade which continues to deteriorate and shows distress, and cracking of mortar joints. They also discovered that the building suffers from a lack of proper bond between the brick and mortar, and masonry wall construction. Excessive efflorescence which is a sign on moisture was also found.  

The report found that poor workmanship during construction as well as deficient design and detailing were the main causes.    

Despite repeated requests the De Blasio administration has refused to say why they have not addressed the issues or provided an estimate of costs needed to fix them. 

In October the Parks Department's press office told A Walk In The Park that the "matter is currently under review. No further information can be provided at this time."

Since then the Parks Department had refused to provide any additional information. 

Park sources say the job's general contractor Commodore Construction has multiple claims against the city for the job. 

The Parks Department's besieged capital division was responsible for the $ 50 million dollar renovation project. 

"We have no idea what we're doing, " fumed a long-time Parks Department capital division employee. 

"We cover it up and lie and lie and lie. Silver (Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver) has no idea what is going on, he's clueless.  He keeps being lied to.  Therese  (Braddick, Deputy Commissioner, Capital Projects) and Jonna (Carmona-Graf,  Chief of Capital Program Management) have no idea what they are doing.   Instead of getting rid of the people who are responsible for these messes they're hiring more people for them to mismanage. 

"It's unbelievable.  Zero accountability. WE are wasting tax payer money.  They just don't care."

   

The report focus on the north and south bathhouses which were reconstructed and modernized to accommodate the new recreation centers. 

According to the report soon after the reconstruction was completed the building facades started showing  "severe signs of moisture severe signs of moisture infiltration, manifested by excessive efflorescence on the brick, and signs of water leakage through the roof and damp areas on the interior wall finishes."  

Despite some corrective measures, the moisture infiltration through the facade and roof has become "progressively worse and the buildings' interiors started to deteriorate" the  report states.

"The facade continues to deteriorate and shows signs of distress."

Our investigation indicates that the water infiltration through the building envelope has been caused primarily by poor workmanship of the masonry construction , and the problems have been compounded by deficient detailing on the contract drawings, " the report summarizes. 

The 8 page report found a host of problems including design deficiencies and poor workmanship during construction.

• Insufficient expansion joints

•  Absence of wall cavity and weep holes above the upper level clearstory windows

• Lack of flashing on the existing concrete brick shelves

•  Lack of vapor barrier in the roofing system and deficiencies in waterproofing along the parapet walls

• Inadequate flashing and roofing transitions around the exterior stairs at the roof

•  Deficient mortaring - lack of bond between the brick and mortar

• Lack of flashing on the steel lintels above the jack-arch windows and at the window sills 

• Insufficient masonry ties

• Leaking joints in the parapet  coping, missing flashing and unsealed penetrations

Read More:

McCarren Park swimming pool full of leaks after $50M renovation
New York Post - May 12, 2015 - By Rich Calder

Central Park Attacks

Manhattan

Geoffrey Croft

Several people were robbed in separate attacks in Central Park.

A  17-year-old female was attacked with her 20-year-old boyfriend in Heckscher Playground yesterday evening at 9.00pm according to police.

A group of approximately 15 males and females  armed with a taser and and knife approached the couple hanging out in the playground in the southern end of the park and began yelling.

A female punched the teen in the mouth and was thrown to the ground.  She had her purse stolen which was later recovered  but her cell phone was missing. 

Her boyfriend has a knife displayed to him and was chased  but got away unharmed.  

The assailants were described as Hispanic teens and black males in the 20's.

Four hours  later at 1:00am a man, 45, was robbed while walking along the 81st  transverse. 

The victim was approached from behind and choked and robbed by a man with a handgun. 

 His knapsack and wallet were taken. 

The assailant was described as a black male with dreadlocks. 

Police Release Edward Snowden Sculpture Confiscated in Fort Greene Park

The NYPD returned the sculpture of Edward Snowden that was placed in Fort Greene Park in the early morning hours of April 6, 2015.  This afternoon volunteers moved the 100 pound bust from a police van at the NYPD property facility in Queens.  (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge

City-Wide

The sculpture of Edward Snowden placed on the perimeter of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument in Fort Greene Park in the early morning hours of April 6, 2015, has been returned to the attorney for the artists, Ronald L. Kuby. 

The bust was retrieved this afternoon from the NYPD Property facility in Queens after being stored in the Bronx. 

The sculpture and plastic name tag in the police van.

The sculpture was removed by Parks officials after being on exhibit in the park after only a few hours. It was then detained by the NYPD.   

Pursuant to an agreement with the City, the two artists received civil summonses from the Environmental Control Board for the civil offense of being in the park after hours.  

They were assessed the standard fine of $50.00 each.  According to Kuby, the fine will be paid promptly to avoid incurring substantial late fees.

"We are pleased that we could resolve this matter without litigation, and appreciate the City's commitment to artistic expression, even thought the artists failed to dot every "i" and cross every "t" when initially erecting their sculpture," Kuby said.  

The bust secured in the police van. 

The artists will submit an application to legally exhibit the sculpture through the Parks Department's Art in the Parks initiative,  a 45-year-old program that exhibits artwork temporary work in city parks throughout the city.   

"We are thrilled the statue has been released for public viewing," the artists said in statement.

"The goal of this project has always been to help the public have an important national debate about mass surveillance. It is challenging to care enough to think critically about the revelations of a person much of the media has labeled a "traitor". Our instinct is to associate all actions of that person as being wrong. This short changes us all, because it does not allow us the space to make up our own minds. The statue aims to offer an alternative perspective to the media's previous characterization of Snowden - giving us the space to consider a debate over the revelations without feeling like traitors to the nation we love," they said.

A gallery in Brooklyn will temporarily exhibit the work beginning on May 8th.  At the invitation of Postmasters Gallery "The Snowden Bust" will be presented in the SEVEN at The Boiler exhibition titled,  "anonymity, no longer an option."

BACKGROUND:      A 100-pound bust of NSA whistleblower, the work of three artists, was erected by just before dawn atop one of the Doric columns near the park's Prison Ship Martyrs Monument. The city quickly covered up the statue and police confiscated and remained in police custody until today. 

Caption: The NYPD returned the sculpture of Edward Snowden that was placed in Fort Greene Park in the early morning hours of April 6, 2015. The 100 pound bust was picked up Wednesday morning from the NYPD property clerk in the North Bronx.

 The NYPD barcode on the farhead of the bust.

Volunteers moved the 100 pound bust from a police van at the NYPD property facility in Queens this afternoon. (Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates) Click on images to enlarge

Read More: 

Edward Snowden Artists Seek Confiscated Sculpture Back From NYPD

A Walk In The Park - April 14, 2015 

The Great Cover-Up As Parks' Quickly Removes Bust Of Edward 

Snowden In Fort Greene Park

A Walk In The Park - April 6, 2015 - By Geoffrey Croft

Four More Teens Busted In Worlds Fair Towers

Four teens were caught sneaking into the Worlds Fair's Astro Towers on Tuesday afternoon. Park Enforcement Patrol (PEP) officers caught up to the group on the first observation deck,  126 feet in the air, and surprised them. The New York State Pavilion,  can be seen in the background. 

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

Four more teens were caught sneaking up into the Worlds Fair towers NYC Park Advocates has learned. 

When Park Enforcement officers arrived this time they found the gate wide-open and the flimsy lock missing.   The rusted metal door that leads to the deteriorated staircase was also wide open and the small lock was nowhere to be found.  



The group was caught on the first platform.

"The locks magically disappeared," said an officer at the scene.

The kids from nearby Bowne High School made it as far as the first observation deck - 126 feet in the air -  Tuesday afternoon at 3:00pm when officers surprised them.

PEP officers detain four teens 126 feet in the air one of the three Worlds Fair Astro Towers observational platforms. 

"It's very dangerous up there," an officer said.  

"One slip and it's all over.

The officer said one teen mentioned he saw photos people had taken on instagram from the site.

Two 15-year olds and 16-year old were given trespassing summons. 

Another 16-year old,  who had multiple ID's belonging to other people and a bank card belong to someone else, was arrested. 

A few weeks ago, PEP officers caught five teens hanging out and graffiting 226 feet up on the highest tower.   Five teens were caught by park police after they broke into and climbed to the top of the observation deck.

When Park Enforcement Patrol Officers arrived this time they found the perimeter fence wide-open and the lock missing.  Safely on the ground  (background) officers issued summonses to three and took one teen into custody.  




Nearly $ six million dollars has been allocated for improvements to the three structures.


When PEP officers arrived at the base of the tower they saw the door leading inside wide open and the lock missing. 


Read More:

Sky-High Graffiti Bust: Teens Caught On Top Of Flushing Meadows
Corona Park Worlds Fair Towers
A wAlk In  The Park - March 15, 2015 -  By Geoffrey Croft