CHELSEA — A homeless man with synthetic marijuana in his pocket was arrested after attacking a bouncer at a Chelsea bar, according to police.
The 46-year-old suspect became belligerent shortly before 10 p.m. on May 13 when a bouncer at Smithfield Hall, at 138 W. 25th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, refused to let him in because he was drunk, police said.
The man, a resident of the Bowery Residents Committee shelter a block away at 127 West 25th St., tried several times to get into the bar and was rebuffed each time by the bar’s doorman, police said. The man then shoved the bouncer and tried to push him, according to a police report.
When the bouncer managed to move the man away from the door, he imitated a gun with his hand and threatened to return and shoot the bar staff, before trying again to push past the bouncer, police said.
As a bar employee called 911, Department of Homeless Services peace officers arrived and managed to handcuff the man, according to a police report. When police arrived and searched his pockets, officers found a packet of so-called K2 in his pocket.
Emergency responders transported the suspect to Bellevue Hospital out of concern that he was under the influence of the drug, which has been known to have unpredictable side effects including rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, vomiting, nausea and hallucinations, according to reports.
The suspect, who has a rap sheet including burglary, drug dealing, and robbery, was charged with menacing and harassment, court records show.
A judge ordered him held on $1,000 bail and he is currently in custody at Manhattan Detention Complex awaiting his next court date on June 16, records show.
Police and shelter security last year stepped up patrols of the block of West 25th Street on which the BRC Shelter is located amid a spike in arrests for K2 possessions in the immediate vicinity.
A lawyer for the man, a representative of DHS, and a representative of BRC Shelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An employee at Smithfield Hall declined to comment.
The future of BRC Shelter is currently in question thanks to efforts by the building's owner to put the property up for sale. According to a report in the Commerical Observer, the 12-story building housing the shelter could fetch more than $100 million.
