KIPS BAY — Police arrested a man for burglary after a witness spotted him on a fire escape of a residential building, allegedly casing windows for access, according to police.
An eagle-eyed neighbor spotted 27-year-old Romero Rasdell climbing on a fire escape behind 212 E. 25th St. at 2:14 p.m. on Aug. 21, looking for open windows, police said.
A short while later, an officer lying in wait saw Rasdell leave the building, who then took off running when the officer tried to apprehend him, according to a criminal complaint. Police caught up with him after a brief chase, police said.
Further investigation revealed that someone had entered an apartment in the building through an open window, stealing a pair of watches and leaving the front door ajar, police said.
After searching Rasdell, police found him carrying a bag of marijuana and counterfeit cash, but no sign of the missing watches, according a complaint from the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
Rasdell was charged with burglary and possession of a forged instrument, both felonies, according to court documents. He is being held on $50,000 bond bail and is due back in court on Aug. 27, according to online court records.
His lawyer did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Other notable crimes in the 13th Precinct include:
► A man who came to Bellevue Medical Center with a dislocated shoulder inexplicably shattered a door at the entrance valued at $2,000, police said.
The 30-year-old man smashed the glass shortly after his arrival at 11:23 p.m. on Aug. 22, officials said. When officers arrived to arrest him, they found him carrying a hatchet, which he claimed was for protection, according to police.
The man was charged with criminal mischief and weapons possession. He's being held in lieu of $3,000 bond, with a court date set for Aug. 28, according to court records.
His lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.
► Police arrested three men on the same Chelsea block last week for possession of synthetic marijuana, also known as "K2" or "spice," according to police.
Police spotted a 41-year-old man smoking a K2 joint on the sidewalk of West 25th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues at 5:38 p.m. on Aug. 19. He was arrested and was found carrying another joint made from the same stuff, police said.
Another man was nabbed after the 50-year-old was caught smoking a K2 joint on the same street at about 7 a.m. on Aug. 20, police said.
A third man, a 34-year-old, was arrested for smoking the illegal substance at 6:58 a.m. on Aug. 21, police said. After a search, he was also found carrying a bag of K2, officials said.
Lawyers for the men did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
