The accused nightmare tenant squatting in a rent-controlled West Village residence was arrested over the weekend for allegedly smashing a neighbor’s doorbell digicam, The Publish has realized.
Melvin DeJesus, 66, was caught on his neighbor’s digicam knocking on the door repeatedly, taping a notice to it — after which ripping the Ring Video Doorbell off the wall and taking it with him on Thursday, March 5, prosecutors alleged.
Witnesses instructed The Publish they noticed “a phalanx” of cops on Saturday strategy DeJesus, who was sitting in a automotive as soon as used by his former roommate and late lifelong resident of 400 Bleeker St, John Grafenecker.
William Farrington for NY Publish
“They only took him out of the automotive slowly and cuffed him,” one witness stated.
Footage shared with The Publish confirmed roughly six cops surrounding the black SUV as an unidentified man who was sitting subsequent to DeJesus exits the automobile.
DeJesus was charged with felony mischief and theft on Saturday, the Manhattan District Lawyer’s Workplace stated, the newest addition to the ex-con’s prolonged rap sheet — which incorporates an tried homicide cost from 1987.
The alleged squatter from hell moved into the Fifth-floor unit at 400 Bleecker St. roughly 20 years in the past when Grafenecker took him in, a relative of the late tenant’s beforehand instructed The Publish.
DeJesus stayed within the residence after Grafenecker’s demise at 84 final 12 months — and now faces each eviction proceedings and a separate lawsuit from the constructing proprietor accusing him of turning the fascinating residence right into a “flophouse” and terrorizing his neighbors.
Neighbors stated they’re so frightened, that some are contemplating shifting out — and claimed that regardless of a court-issued restraining order towards DeJesus, the constructing isn’t doing sufficient to maintain them protected.
“I’ve tons of emails from all of the tenants to administration asking for security measures to be taken and administration failing to take action, all through the final 12 months,” stated one constructing resident, who requested to stay nameless.
“I’ve additionally relocated at a pal’s as a result of I’m not protected in my residence,” the resident stated, including that different tenants are additionally contemplating fleeing the constructing, the place a two-bedroom unit lately rented for $6,700 a month.
“It’s actually ruining my life and my proper to protected housing.”
A spokesperson for the constructing proprietor, The Brodsky Group, stated in an announcement: “We’ve taken each doable means to handle this unlucky scenario and stay dedicated to sustaining protected, clear, and comfy housing for all residents.
The corporate is suing DeJesus for $5.5 million and gained a restraining order towards him barring him from harassing tenants final month.
“Our tenants had been knowledgeable of the restraining order inside an hour of us turning into conscious of it on February 25,” the rep stated. “Equally, administration was made conscious of the latest pest points and instantly addressed the problems once they arose.”
DeJesus has claimed in courtroom papers that he has the correct to remain within the residence as a result of the now-deceased longtime tenant, Grafenecker, was truly his homosexual lover of 30 years — an argument authorized consultants have stated might permit him to maintain the coveted rent-controlled unit.
However an in depth relative of Grafenecker’s poured chilly water on the romantic relationship declare, as did one other tenant within the constructing Tuesday.
DeJesus “constantly made homophobic assaults and insults on the homosexual tenants within the constructing,” the tenant claimed.
“I used to be additionally listening to their fights all day all evening for months — I can assure they weren’t in a relationship.”
Grafenecker lived in residence 5B from 1946 till his demise final fall.
DeJesus couldn’t be reached for remark.
