Robbery Charge Reduced Under New Manhattan District Attorney’s Reform Policies – NBC New York

Investigators say another Manhattan armed robbery case has been reduced to a shoplifting charge by Manhattan’s new district attorney.

Investigators say this time it was a knife-wielding suspect who stole about $2,000 worth of cold medicine from a Duane Reade along Delancey Street in Lower Manhattan over the weekend. Video from inside the store shows the manager allegedly being threatened by the suspect.

Police arrested 43-year-old William Rolon, confirming it was his second time visiting the store and his 39th arrest overall. But instead of charging Rolon with theft, sources said prosecutors dropped charges of petty theft, a misdemeanor, even though the manager told police she was terrified.

It comes after another robbery, at a TJ Maxx along Sixth Avenue and West 18th Street on Jan. 7, in which prosecutors dropped charges against the suspect, who allegedly threatened workers with scissors, to one count. misdemeanor theft.

Newly elected District Attorney Alvin Bragg has told his prosecutors that they should try to reduce charges and pursue diversion and treatment programs in many cases where no one gets hurt. Bragg met with the police commissioner Wednesday to discuss their differing views on crime, deterrence and fairness.

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