By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN CRIMINAL COURT — An aspiring rapper who disrupted midtown Manhattan when he climbed to the top of a street light pole for about two hours did it for the publicity, he allegedly told investigators.
"It was just a publicity stunt for my music," Raymond Velasquez, 34, who raps under the name Coney Island Joe, allegedly told police during his stunt on Tuesday, according to his statement released after his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court Wednesday.
Velasquez initially tried to tell police, "I lost my son, I'm looking for him," then said he wouldn't climb down "unless Alicia Keys comes outside to see me."
Alicia Keys had performed in Times Square hours before Velasquez climbed the pole.
Velasquez was charged with misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, trespass and disorderly conduct and ordered held on $1,000 bail Wednesday.
Police had to shut down the streets around Times Square Tuesday morning as they tried to talk Velasquez down from his pearch above 1500 Seventh Avenue. Witnesses said Velasquez had thrown down some of his demo CDs while on top of the pole, and performed a few rhymes during his two-hour stint.
Assistant District Attorney Jon Choate said the stunt was not to be taken lightly.
"This defendant brought the city to a halt yesterday in the Times Square area," he said.
Velasquez, of Brooklyn, reportedly caused a similar fracas last February outside the "Today Show."
He is next scheduled to appear in court on July 13. It was unclear whether he'd be able to post bail.
