By Graham Rayman
New York Daily News
NEW YORK — A crowd of people angry they had to evacuate their burning Bronx building turned on cops, dousing one with a half gallon of milk and ripping a body camera off another, police said.
The melee began after a fire broke out in a building on Grand Concourse near E. 172nd St. in Claremont about 5 p.m. Tuesday, cops said.
Police officers ordered the building evacuated for safety reasons and directed residents across the street, while firefighters fought the fire.
The crowd grew angry and started shouting, demanding to be let back in. One man came out of a bodega and tossed an open container of milk at one of the cops, splashing him, and took off running.
Meanwhile, Angelo Rodriguez, 18, looking to get back in the building, started arguing with cops and then shoved them, according to authorities. Cops took him down to the ground to put him in handcuffs. He was charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and other charges.
This enraged Rodriguez’s mother, Raquel De Jesus, 38. She charged in and grabbed one cop’s body camera and threw it on to the sidewalk, according to police. She was arrested and charged with grand larceny, criminal mischief, harassment and other charges.
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The fire was safely extinguished and no one was injured.
Cops released a picture of the milk tosser Thursday and asked for the public’s help identifying him. He is described as black, about 25 to 30 and about 140 pounds.
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The incident comes on the heels of summer altercations where people threw water on police, sparking NYPD brass to direct cops to not tolerate such treatment and not hesitate to make an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will kept confidential.
©2019 New York Daily News