MIDTOWN — A candy seller threatened to “do something negative” to a passerby who refused to buy anything from him, the NYPD said.
The 26-year-old victim, from Queens, was walking on the sidewalk near the intersection of East 51st Street and Fifth Avenue around 2 p.m. on Aug. 1 when James Mitchell, 24, grabbed his hand, pressed him up against a wall and wouldn’t let him leave, the NYPD said.
“I know you have money — buy my candy,” Mitchell said to the man, according to a complaint filed with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
The man said “no” repeatedly and tried to walk away, but Mitchell blocked his way, police and the DA’s office said.
When the man kept on refusing to buy candy, Mitchell said, “Now I’m going to have to do something negative to you," according to the DA’s office.
Mitchell was arrested and charged with unlawful imprisonment, aggressive begging in a public place and disorderly conduct, the complaint said.
He pled guilty to unlawful imprisonment on Friday, and received a 60-day jail sentence, the DA's office said.
He is currently being held at the Eric M. Taylor Center and is expected to be released on Sept. 9, city Department of Correction records show.
Mitchell's attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
