Brooklyn man arrested and charged in five hateful “knockout” attacks on women.

Four individuals were arrested in the latest 'knockiout' game earlier this morning

NEW YORK—The New York Daily News and New York Post are reporting on the arrest of a Brooklyn man by the NYPD hate crimes unit for five alleged “knockout” attacks perpetrated against women.

Police sketch of Barry Baldwin, 35 of Brooklyn.

Police sketch of Barry Baldwin, 35 of Brooklyn.

According to the reports, 35 year-old Barry Baldwin attacked his hapless victims from November 9 through Christmas eve. Victims were Jewish women ranging from 20 to 78 years of age. One woman had a 7 year old child with her for which prosecutors added a charge of endangering a child.

Initial reports had police treating this as a hate crime since it was specifically against the Jewish community. But it was, unfortunately, reported as being downgraded. Prosecutors would not comment on the reason for the downgrade from a hate crime.

“Everyone will sleep a little easier,” said Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who has been warning the community about the menace.

Enraged protesters battle cops in Brooklyn streets during third night of rioting

Police push protesters back on Church Ave. in East Flatbush. / Photo New York Daily News

Police push protesters back on Church Ave. in East Flatbush. / Photo New York Daily News

Protesters enraged over the fatal shooting of a teenager by police poured into Brooklyn streets for a third straight night Wednesday, pitching bricks, bottles and garbage in furious clashes with cops.

At least 46 demonstrators were arrested along Church Ave. in East Flatbush. Police struggled to control a hostile crowd that broke away from a planned peaceful vigil for Kimani (Kiki) Gray, 16, killed by police on Saturday night.

Gray’s sister Mahnefeh was among those arrested. A police officer suffered a gash in the face when a tossed brick hit him, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said, and a window was smashed in an inspector’s car.

Read more at New York Daily News
See Also: The Examiner

Brooklyn and Queens residents arming with everything they can

NEW YORK—New York papers are reporting on the plight of residents with limited arms in Queens and Brooklyn in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

New York Daily News

The New York Daily News reports, “Ever since Sandy strafed the Queens peninsula and tore up the boardwalk, it’s become an often lawless place where cops are even scarcer than electrical power and food. Locals say they are arming themselves with guns, baseball bats, booby traps — even a bow and arrow — to defend against looters.”

It is there that 42-year old Keone Singlehurst stands guard on his Beach 87th street bungalow with bow-and-arrow. Another surfer has knives, a machete and bow-and-arrow ready also. 34-year old Danielle Harris had to booby trap her door and keeps a baseball bat next to her bed to protect her and her children against looters. There are other reports of various methods residents are using to stop looters and criminals from entering their homes.

Yet, in the midst of the reports of staving off roving looters, there are reports of people cleaning up the damage from Sandy and providing food and aid to those in need in the area.

New York Post – Jacinto Gonzalez stands guard against looters in Coney Island.

In Coney Island residents are loading up what guns they have and brandishing baseball bats and machetes.

“Hardened New Yorkers are ready to battle lowlife criminals to protect their homes and stores in storm-ravaged areas plagued by looting and break-ins,” the New York Post reports.

Reports on the Internet allege that New York Mayor Micheal Bloomberg has refused to allow National Guard assistance in Brooklyn because they carry guns. The Borough President asked for the assistance in hopes that the show of those guns would limit the necessity of residents taking matters into their own hands.

Despite the reports of looters and criminals possibly taking advantage of the hurricane disaster, there are no reports of people actually having to use any weapons in their defense nor vigilante activity. The show of force seems to be enough to stave off much of the criminal element.

NY Daily News: Queens residents arm themselves in the post-storm blackout from looters
New York Post: B’klyn bat man: Run, looters!

Bloomberg refuses National Guard assistance to Sandy victims in Brooklyn because of guns.

NEW YORK—A report on Newsbusters indicates that Mayor Michael Rubens Bloomberg of New York refused to allow National Guard units into Brooklyn—despite the pleas of Borough President Markowitz. The reason for denying the aid to Sandy victims was because the National Guard carries guns.

Apparently Bloomberg refused the request an hour before his press conference claiming his brave NYPD and FDNY were “overwhelmed.” Bloomberg refused, alleges the story, because it would turn the Borough into a “police state.”

“We don’t need it,” Mayor Bloomberg said on Wednesday during a press update on the city’s ongoing Hurricane Sandy cleanup. “The NYPD is the only people we want on the street with guns.”—the article reports.

Markowitz hoped that the presence of soldiers would stop a rash of looting and break-ins that occurred in the aftermath of Sandy.