Mayhem in Washington Square Park Rises as Violence Spins Out of Control

By:  Benyamin Davidsons

On Saturday, the mayhem in the Washington Square Park area escalated to new levels.

In the single day, there were at least six people injured in violence in and near the Greenwich Village Park.  As reported by the NY Post, one man was beaten and robbed of his cellphone, three others knifed in a fight and an elderly cook hurt in a morning attack at a neighborhood diner.

The violence began at roughly 12:20 a.m. at 1 Washington Square South when a 43-year-old man recording an argument on his cellphone, got his phone knocked out of his hand.  The two attackers punched him in the head and face, and kicked him, taking his cell phone, police said.

The overnight violence continued at the park, where graffiti with anti-police rhetoric, including “Cops Kill” was scribbled on the park’s famed arch. At about 2:15 a.m. on Sunday, three people were hurt when a dispute erupted among about 10 people.  The three slashing victims told police investigators they were dancing in a large gathering of about 50 people when the violence erupted.   A 24-year-old man was stabbed once in the left leg.  Another man was slashed in the leg, and a 21-year-old woman was pushed to the ground and kicked during the pandemonium, police sources said.  The three victims were treated and released from Bellevue Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.  The 10 suspects ran in unknown directions.  No arrests have been made as yet.

At about 9:45 a.m. Sunday more mayhem was reported at Washington Square Diner.  At the restaurant, located on 6th Avenue and West Fourth Street, police said suspect Gregory Conwell, 27, of Red Hook, Brooklyn, allegedly pushed a 77-year-old cook into a plate glass window and then ran off to the park.  Three brave employees pursued him and held him until the police arrived, as per The Post.  Restaurant workers said that Conwell was a frequent disturbance, coming in just to bother customers.  He had been asked to leave the diner when he lost it.

“He started cursing and screaming and yelling and doing whatever he wanted, and then he grabbed the chef and threw him on the window”, manager George Takos told The Post.  The injured cook suffered a gash to the back of his head and was treated for lacerations at Lenox Hill Hospital.  One of the workers who chased and detained the attacker said Conwell allegedly bit his arm during the struggle in the park.  An NYPD spokeswoman said Conwell was being charged with felony assault, criminal mischief and an additional account of assault.