UPPER EAST SIDE — A homeless man was arrested after threatening a group of kids with a fake gun, according to the NYPD.
Jose Abdelrehim, 21, chased a group of roughly 10 kids with a fake pistol to the corner of First Avenue and East 59th Street at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
People in the group were screaming, "He has a piece!" as the suspect chased them down the block, yelling and pointing the faux firearm at them, according to officials.
When police arrived, they saw Abdelrehim in front of 408 E. 59th St. with his hand in his pocket, the NYPD said. Officers stopped him at gunpoint and ordered him to the ground, confiscating the fake pistol, which had an orange tip, from the back of his waistband, police said.
Abdelrehim was arrested and charged with menacing, possession of an imitation pistol and disorderly conduct, according to officials.
His bail was set $500 at his arraignment on Thursday morning. He is due back in court on Jan. 5, officials said.
His Legal Aid attorney, Claudia Emanuel, did not immediately return a call for comment on Thursday.
The 19th Precinct posted a picture of the fake firearm on its Twitter account.
Does it look real to you?It did to the victim who was menaced w/this fake firearm-good arrest by evening patrol #UES pic.twitter.com/IrQvWEzGGn
— NYPD 19th Precinct (@NYPD19Pct) December 31, 2015
