Heartless thief accused of stealing gold-plated rose from 9/11 memorial laughs throughout arraignment
The man accused of stealing a $3k gold-plated rose from a church’s 9/11 memorial laughed through his arraignment on Saturday night as prosecutors listed a string of crimes that he allegedly committed within the last month.
Deikel Alcantara, 21, was admonished by Judge Simiyon Haniff for his egregious behavior — fidgeting, smiling, and laughing as the court heard of his heartless acts.
“I don’t know if you think this is funny but they’re about to ask for bail,” the judge said as a prosecutor detailed Alcantara’s alleged crimes.
Authorities say that Alcantara was seen entering the Saint Francis of Assis church on West 31st Street by a security guard who says the accused made a beeline for the gold rose that was the centerpiece of the 9/11 memorial.
The security guard says he warned Alcantara not to touch the memorial and then continued on his rounds — which is when Alcantara plucked the gold-plated rose and ran off, according to prosecutors.
That rose has still not been recovered.
Alcantara has been on a one man crime-spree over the last month, according to authorities.
Cops say he attacked a senior citizen with a metal pipe back on October 24. He’s facing second degree assault charges for that incident which left the victim with an injured arm.
The punk also has another misdemeanor for which there are no available details.
As the assistant district attorney told the court of his alleged heinous actions, Alcantara continued to laugh and smile.
“Let the record reflect that this defendant has been laughing for the whole time,” Judge Haniff said. “This is a big joke to him, that’s what this is. This is a big joke for you, right?”
Alcantara was turned into police by his father on Friday night.
He was ordered held on $75,000 bail.
He is being charged with one count of grand larceny for the theft of the rose.
Alcantara is due back in court on Tuesday.
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