A 20-year-old Manhattan man who was sentenced last month to 15 years to life imprisonment for a burglary-murder in 1977 escaped yesterday from the Rikers Island Adolescent Reception and Detention Shelter.
The man, Sean Ryan, was awaiting transfer to the crowded state prison system.
He burned a hole in one of three plexiglass louver window panels in his cell and then, with a five-inch hacksaw blade, sawed through the panel frame. He then let down a 15-foot rope that he had braided from blanket, pushed out the glass, squirmed his 145-pound, 5-foot-6 inch body through the opening and climbed out and dropped down to the ground 20 feet below. A correction officer heard a crash at 3:30am and found the cell empty.
Ryan was found guilty of the 11/12/77 death of Harry Kassoff, 68, at the Sovereign, 425 East 58th Street. Willis Jackson, 22, had admitted stabbing Mr. K and had testified that Mr. Ryan participated in the burglary.
Excerpt from The New York Times 6/12/79
Tuesday, June 12, 1979
Thursday, July 13, 1978
Just 110 of 3,076 Arrested in Blackout Sentenced to More Than Year
Only 110 of the 3,076 people arrested on looting and other blackout-related charges during the citywide power failure that began last July 13 have been sentenced to jail terms of a year or more, according to a report issued yesterday by NY State court and criminal officials.
Fewer than half got any jail time at all. This contrasts with the usual felony burglary conviction pattern, in which jail terms are imposed in nearly three out of four cases.
Fewer than half got any jail time at all. This contrasts with the usual felony burglary conviction pattern, in which jail terms are imposed in nearly three out of four cases.
Friday, June 23, 1978
Berkowitz Outbursts Disrupt Court; Sentencing Put Off, Tests Ordered
David R. Berkowitz, who was scheduled to be sentenced yesterday for the six “Son of Sam” murders, battled officers before entering the courtroom, then walked in chanting, “Stacy was a whore.”
The courtroom erupted in turmoil and, only minutes later, he was dragged out by half a dozen officers.
Neya M. heard him chanting and cried out, “You’re an animal!” and ran out of the courtroom. “That’s right. That’s right,” Berk shouted after her. “I’d kill her again. I’d kill them all again!”
Robert Violante jumped up shouting, “You should get killed, you creep!” (His vision is limited to four feet in the one eye that has vision). He collapsed in his seat sobbing.
Those who had observed the .44-caliber killer during earlier court appearances were shocked. He had always seemed pleasant, polite, even slightly repentant, they said. But when he was dragged into the courtroom yesterday, his face was flushed, his eyes distended wildly and his forehead smeared with dirt. His light blue suit – the same one he had worn in other court appearances – was rumpled and soiled.
Later a young friend of the M. family, Daniel Carrique shouted out, “That’s no justice! What about the families? How much do you think they can take?”
Carrique was led from the courtroom by guards. Judge Joseph Corso was visibly angered. “I trust I am presiding in an American court to dispense justice. I will not be influenced by any public clamor.”
Excerpt from June 23, 1978 New York Times
The courtroom erupted in turmoil and, only minutes later, he was dragged out by half a dozen officers.
Neya M. heard him chanting and cried out, “You’re an animal!” and ran out of the courtroom. “That’s right. That’s right,” Berk shouted after her. “I’d kill her again. I’d kill them all again!”
Robert Violante jumped up shouting, “You should get killed, you creep!” (His vision is limited to four feet in the one eye that has vision). He collapsed in his seat sobbing.
Those who had observed the .44-caliber killer during earlier court appearances were shocked. He had always seemed pleasant, polite, even slightly repentant, they said. But when he was dragged into the courtroom yesterday, his face was flushed, his eyes distended wildly and his forehead smeared with dirt. His light blue suit – the same one he had worn in other court appearances – was rumpled and soiled.
Later a young friend of the M. family, Daniel Carrique shouted out, “That’s no justice! What about the families? How much do you think they can take?”
Carrique was led from the courtroom by guards. Judge Joseph Corso was visibly angered. “I trust I am presiding in an American court to dispense justice. I will not be influenced by any public clamor.”
Excerpt from June 23, 1978 New York Times
Tuesday, June 06, 1978
1,058 Bombings in US In 1977 Sets A Record
There were a record 1,058 bombings in the US last year, and labor strife was behind more of them than any other cause, the Treasury Dept reported today.
In 1976 there were 870 explosive bombings.
Thirty-eight people were killed, some of them when their cars blew up.
NYT 6/6/78
In 1976 there were 870 explosive bombings.
Thirty-eight people were killed, some of them when their cars blew up.
NYT 6/6/78
Tuesday, February 14, 1978
Reports of Violent Crime Dropped by 9% in NYC Last Year
The total number of violent crimes reported in NYC declined last year, for the first time since 1973, according to statistics made available yesterday by the Police Dept.
The Dept said that a total of 121,916 violent crimes – murders, forcible rapes, robberies and assaults – were reported in 1977 a 9 percent drop from the 1976 number: 134,153.
The overall number of major crimes – including burglary, larceny and motor-vehicle theft dropped 7% to 610,062.
But even with the one year improvement the overall figure for 1977 was higher than it had been in all recent years but 1976 and even exceeded the total recorded in 1971 which was regarded as an exceptionally high crime year.
(591,9292 major crimes and 126,740 violent).
Criminals were finding it “easier and safer to rip off property than people.”
1977 crime figures were depressed by extreme cold weather early in the year….
The number of homicides was placed at 1,557, 65 fewer than in the year before.
NYT 2/14/78
The Dept said that a total of 121,916 violent crimes – murders, forcible rapes, robberies and assaults – were reported in 1977 a 9 percent drop from the 1976 number: 134,153.
The overall number of major crimes – including burglary, larceny and motor-vehicle theft dropped 7% to 610,062.
But even with the one year improvement the overall figure for 1977 was higher than it had been in all recent years but 1976 and even exceeded the total recorded in 1971 which was regarded as an exceptionally high crime year.
(591,9292 major crimes and 126,740 violent).
Criminals were finding it “easier and safer to rip off property than people.”
1977 crime figures were depressed by extreme cold weather early in the year….
The number of homicides was placed at 1,557, 65 fewer than in the year before.
NYT 2/14/78
Tuesday, December 27, 1977
Escaped Murder Suspect Caught After Shooting Chase in the Bronx
A murder suspect who escaped from the prison psychiatric ward at Bellevue Sunday night (Christmas) was recaptured by Yonkers police after he reportedly stole a car and outran two police cars in a chase through the Bronx.
In October, the suspect, 25-yer-old Anthony Ricco, escaped from Rikers Island and held 50 police officers at bay while holding a gun to his wife’s head. In exchange for releasing his wife the police promised to take him to Bellevue instead of Rikers.
On Sunday, Ricco used a hacksaw blade to cut through bars on a second-floor window before lowering himself to the street with knotted bedding.
A friend who was with him when he was recaptured, 18-year-old Sondra Tyrel is being held on conspiracy charges. Police believe she had smuggled the blade in to Ricco.
A fellow inmate who proceeded Ricco down the rope fell into a pit in front of a basement window, breaking one foot and both ankles. He was recaptured immediately.
Ricco’s first stop after the escape was the Kips Bay Garage, diagonally across from Bellevue, where he stole a 71 Buick.
Police tried to arrest him after receiving a tip as to his whereabouts (1152 White Plains Rd near Virginia Ave in the Parkchester section of The Bronx). They waited for him in an unmarked car until he walked up to the stolen car at about 12:30 am. But, they said, he fired one shot at them, backed the car up into a lamppost and then roared away.
Miss Tyrel was found on the floor of the car with a bullet wound in her right hand.
Excerpt from The New York Times 12/27/77
In October, the suspect, 25-yer-old Anthony Ricco, escaped from Rikers Island and held 50 police officers at bay while holding a gun to his wife’s head. In exchange for releasing his wife the police promised to take him to Bellevue instead of Rikers.
On Sunday, Ricco used a hacksaw blade to cut through bars on a second-floor window before lowering himself to the street with knotted bedding.
A friend who was with him when he was recaptured, 18-year-old Sondra Tyrel is being held on conspiracy charges. Police believe she had smuggled the blade in to Ricco.
A fellow inmate who proceeded Ricco down the rope fell into a pit in front of a basement window, breaking one foot and both ankles. He was recaptured immediately.
Ricco’s first stop after the escape was the Kips Bay Garage, diagonally across from Bellevue, where he stole a 71 Buick.
Police tried to arrest him after receiving a tip as to his whereabouts (1152 White Plains Rd near Virginia Ave in the Parkchester section of The Bronx). They waited for him in an unmarked car until he walked up to the stolen car at about 12:30 am. But, they said, he fired one shot at them, backed the car up into a lamppost and then roared away.
Miss Tyrel was found on the floor of the car with a bullet wound in her right hand.
Excerpt from The New York Times 12/27/77
Saturday, December 24, 1977
Fugitive Arrested in Slaying of Policeman in Harlem
A man who escaped from Green Haven prison was arrested early yesterday morning for the murder of an off-duty police officer and another man in a Harlem tenement on Wednesday night.
Ronald Haynes, 33, was arressted at 8 AM in his apartment on 111th Street. Police found the slain officer’s .38 in the apartment.
According to police, robbery was the motive for the crimein which Officer William Flood, a 37-year-old policeman who trained other officers for the Queens Area Task Force was fatally shot along with another man, Perry Young also 37.
Police are still investigating the case to find out why the police officer was in the building and what connection he had with Mr. Young a transvestite who was wearing women’s underclothes at the the time he was found. A woman’s wig was found nearby.
Officer Flood lived in Ronkonkoma LI with his wife and two children – he went to the building at 11:30pm after driving from a class at John Jay College.
Mr. Haynes followed Flood and Young, who appeared to be a woman into the building with the intention of robbing them. The suspect shot the officer in the head before he was able to fire a shot. Haynes, with a record of more than 20 arrests, had been a fugitive since 1976 (!).
Flood would not be given an Inspector’s funeral – normally given to officers killed on duty – because he was off duty. He was the seventh cop killed this year.
NYT 12/24/77
Ronald Haynes, 33, was arressted at 8 AM in his apartment on 111th Street. Police found the slain officer’s .38 in the apartment.
According to police, robbery was the motive for the crimein which Officer William Flood, a 37-year-old policeman who trained other officers for the Queens Area Task Force was fatally shot along with another man, Perry Young also 37.
Police are still investigating the case to find out why the police officer was in the building and what connection he had with Mr. Young a transvestite who was wearing women’s underclothes at the the time he was found. A woman’s wig was found nearby.
Officer Flood lived in Ronkonkoma LI with his wife and two children – he went to the building at 11:30pm after driving from a class at John Jay College.
Mr. Haynes followed Flood and Young, who appeared to be a woman into the building with the intention of robbing them. The suspect shot the officer in the head before he was able to fire a shot. Haynes, with a record of more than 20 arrests, had been a fugitive since 1976 (!).
Flood would not be given an Inspector’s funeral – normally given to officers killed on duty – because he was off duty. He was the seventh cop killed this year.
NYT 12/24/77
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