Blackstone strikes deal with Jersey Mike’s Subs: WSJ
Private equity firm Blackstone could soon own the popular sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s Subs. According to The Wall Street Journal, the deal would value Jersey Mike’s at $8 billion, including debt.
In an update Tuesday, Nov. 19, Blackstone responded to the Journal’s report and confirmed it has struck a deal to take a majority stake in the Manasquan, N.J.-based sandwich chain.
Blackstone has a history of investing in franchise businesses. It just made a deal in April to buy Tropical Smoothie Café. The Journal also mentions Blackstone’s deal for franchiser Hilton Hotels was the “most profitable private-equity investment in real estate ever.”
Jersey Mike’s, which now has over 3,000 locations, has its roots as a sandwich shop that opened on the Jersey Shore in 1956. In 1975, 17-year-old employee Peter Cancro bought the shop, changed its name to Jersey Mike’s, and began franchising it years later. He remains the company’s CEO.
Consulting company Technomic said Jersey Mike’s is the second largest sub-style sandwich company in the U.S. by sales after Subway.
Chokehold technique scrutinized in Jordan Neely death case
More information came to light during the trial of Daniel Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran charged in the death of Jordan Neely. Key testimony came from Penny’s Marine combat instructor, giving further information on the chokehold technique used in the fatal subway encounter.
Marine instructor Joseph Caballer testified about the “blood choke,” a maneuver taught in combat training to render a person unconscious by cutting off blood flow to the brain within seconds.
Caballer explained that while effective when applied correctly, holding the choke too long can lead to serious injury or death. He noted that Marines are trained to release the hold immediately once the subject is unconscious.
Penny faces charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide after placing Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, in a chokehold during a May 2023 incident on a Manhattan subway. Penny, who has pleaded not guilty, claims he acted to protect passengers from Neely, whom he described as threatening and aggressive.
Video evidence shows Penny restraining Neely on the subway floor for several minutes, even after Neely stopped moving. Caballer’s testimony suggested Penny’s technique may have shifted during the struggle.
He described how a blood choke could unintentionally become an “air choke,” which applies pressure to the trachea and takes longer to render a person unconscious.
Caballer emphasized that improper or prolonged application of either hold can turn a non-lethal restraint into a fatal one. NYC Medical Examiner Dr. Cynthia Harris testified that Neely’s death resulted from “compression of the neck,” with “chokehold” listed as the cause on the death certificate.
Penny’s defense attorneys argued that Neely’s preexisting health issues and potential substance use may have contributed to his death. They also suggested that Penny did not apply consistent pressure throughout the incident.
Eric Gonzalez, a witness to the encounter, testified that he urged Penny to release Neely, offering to help restrain the man’s hands. Gonzalez stated that Penny ignored his suggestion and continued the hold even after Neely stopped resisting. During a police interview, Penny told detectives he had no intention of harming Neely and acted out of concern for passenger safety.
The trial has drawn significant public attention, sparking debates about public safety, self-defense, and the use of force in confrontations involving mental health issues.
If convicted, Penny faces up to 15 years in prison.
Jury selection begins in Daniel Penny’s fatal NYC subway chokehold case
Jury selection begins in the Manhattan trial of former Marine Daniel Penny, 25, who’s charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the chokehold death of Jordan Neely. The case stems from May 2023 when Penny and Neely crossed paths on a New York City subway train.
Penny’s lawyers argue witnesses said a man, identified as Neely, shouted obscenities at subway passengers, terrorizing them, even saying, “Someone is going to die today!” when Penny confronted Neely and restrained him using a chokehold.
Penny told investigators he subdued Neely to prevent him from causing harm to anyone on a crowded F-train.
The chokehold lasted several minutes, and Neely was eventually taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Police questioned Penny the night of Neely’s death and let him leave the police station that same night. However, a medical examiner ruled Neely’s death a homicide, prompting Penny to surrender 11 days after the incident.
He has been out on $100,000 bail.
Video of the incident spread on social media platforms, causing outrage — as Neely’s family said he had been dealing with mental health and addiction issues and was homeless at the time of his death.
Penny’s defense attorneys argue he did not intend to kill Neely, only to restrain him until police arrived because he was acting “erratically” and threatening to kill people.
Prosecutors argue Penny failed to see the humanity in Neely.
The trial is expected to last about six weeks with witnesses to Neely’s behavior and the chokehold expected to testify. However, it’s unclear if Penny will take the stand in his own defense.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) released body-worn camera video of an officer-involved shooting at a subway station on Sunday, Sept. 15. Four people were injured including two bystanders, an officer and the suspect.
Police said it started when Derrell Mickles, who had a knife, jumped a turnstile to avoid paying the subway fare.
In the bodycam footage, officers can be seen going after Mickles up the stairs. They eventually cornered him and ordered Mickles to drop his knife, but he refused.
“I’m not dropping it, you’ll have to shoot me,” Mickles said in the video.
When the train pulled into the station, Mickles backed onto it and officers follow him. Officers repeatedly told Mickles to put the knife down. When he did not, they fired their Tasers, which were ineffective.
Mickles walked off the train, with the knife still in his hand. He then ran in the direction of one officer, who ran backwards. When the officers pulled out their guns, Mickles comes to a complete stop with his hands by his sides.
Officers then fired multiple shots, hitting Mickles who fell to the ground.
The incident sparked protests in New York City. Demonstrators said police used excessive force on Mickles. New York City public advocacy group Legal Aid Society said the bodycam video “completely contradicts the Department’s claim that Mickles ‘charged’ at one of the officers.”
“While this matter remains under investigation, the NYPD’s initial review found that this shooting took place after the suspect involved brandished a dangerous weapon and put officers’ lives at risk,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement after the bodycam video was released. “While the formal review continues, and out of respect for that process, I will avoid commenting any further.”
Mickles was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, among other charges. He was arraigned Friday, Sept. 20, from his hospital bed.
One of the bystanders who was injured in the shooting, Gregory Delpeche, is still in critical condition but making improvements, according to his family.
NYPD to release bodycam footage from controversial subway shooting
The New York Police Department said it plans to release body camera footage of the police shooting inside a Brooklyn subway station. The NYPD held a news conference the night of Wednesday, Sept. 18, detailing what happened moments before the shooting on Sunday, Sept. 15, that injured the suspect, two bystanders and one of the officers.
Officers said the incident started when Derrell Mickles jumped the turnstile twice without paying. Mickles willingly left after officers asked him to go, but then he came back holding a knife, eventually charging at them.
The officers fired their Tasers first, which were ineffective before firing their guns.
“And before he deployed the Taser, it’s important to note that he told the suspect to drop the knife,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry told reporters. “Both officers. Not once, not twice, not three times, but 38 times.”
One of the bystanders, Gregory Delpeche was in a train car when he was shot. He’s still in the hospital in critical condition.
His family said they are ready to see the body camera footage.
“So he was on his way to work. There’s no reason why he should not make it to work. I believe the NYPD was reckless,” Delpeche’s cousin, Greg Nougues said.
The NYPD said it wants Delpeche’s family to see the video, which is expected to be released by the end of the week. The Brooklyn district attorney first has to decide whether to show it to a grand jury.
Protests, controversy after NYPD shoots ‘fare evader,’ bystanders, and cop
Tension is growing over a recent shooting involving the New York City Police Department and a man who officers say didn’t pay to ride the subway. Four people were shot on Sunday, Sept. 15, including the suspect, two bystanders and an NYPD officer.
At least 18 protesters were arrested at Sutter Avenue L train station in Brooklyn on Tuesday, Sept. 17, where the incident happened two days earlier.
As for the original incident, police said they opened fire on Derell Mickles, 37, after he jumped the subway turnstile and charged at police with a knife when they approached him. Demonstrators at the later protest criticized the NYPD’s response, saying officers should have tried to de-escalate the situation, instead of shooting Mickles.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday, “He was not shot for fare evasion. He was shot because he had a knife and he went after the police officers … I thought those officers responded accordingly.”
Officers said they tried to use a taser on Mickles, but the attempts were “ineffective.”
As of Sept. 17, Mickles was in stable condition and is expected to face criminal charges, including attempted assault and fare evasion.
One of the bystanders, Gregory Delpeche, 49, who was also shot, remains in the hospital in critical condition. His family is calling for an investigation into the officers’ actions.
The other bystander and the officer who were shot in the incident are in stable condition.
Murders in New York City’s subway system are rising this year, with eight reported killings as of Sept. 8, according to NYPD data. This marks a 60% increase from the five murders reported during the same period in 2023. It also puts the city on track to reach the record of 10 subway murders set in 2022, the highest number since 1997.
Despite the surge in homicides, overall crime on the subway has decreased by nearly 6%, with significant drops in robberies (down 18%) and felony assaults (down 5%). The NYPD credits these reductions to increased patrols, with an additional 1,000 officers deployed in the transit system, and the removal of a record number of weapons, including 43 guns and 1,536 knives this year.
However, the rise in murders left many commuters fearing for their safety. The NYPD attributed the increase in violent crime to a combination of factors, including mental health issues and a police force stretched thin.
City officials face mounting pressure to address the safety concerns as subway riders continue to express unease.
NYPD: Felony crimes are down, arrests are up on NYC subway system
Through the first four months of 2024, the New York City subway system saw a notable decrease in major felonies compared to the same period last year. The data corresponds to an intensified presence of New York Police Department (NYPD) officers throughout the system since the start of this year.
The NYPD released new numbers that show index crimes through Sunday, April 28, dropped 6.4% compared to the same period last year, with robberies showing the most significant decline at 25%.
However, murders doubled from last year. Police reported four murders in the first four months of 2024, compared to two over the same period in 2023. Notably, there have been no murders in the subway system during April 2024. The latest incident occurred on March 25, at the 125th Street stop on the Lexington Avenue line.
Deputy Chief Norman Grandstaff of the NYPD’s Transit Bureau emphasized ongoing efforts to ensure rider safety. He highlighted the increased police presence and a 50% rise in arrests this year. Part of the rise in arrests are due to fare evasion. Police arrested more than 90% additional people for fare evasion to start 2024. Weapons violations arrests also saw a rise by at least 60%, according to NYPD data.
In March 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, announced plans to use artificial intelligence technology to detect weapons at subway turnstiles, despite concerns about its accuracy and ethical implications. Legal experts warned of potential harm caused by misidentification and false positives.
Adams assured the public that privacy concerns would be addressed. Testing of the AI technology begins three months after the announcement, as mandated by the POST Act. Eventually, body scanners will be installed in subway stations to enhance security measures.
The mayor reaffirmed his commitment to the safety of all New Yorkers, including those struggling with mental illness. Adams promised to hire more mental health clinicians to assist police in managing such cases.
In addition, NYPD officials said the latest numbers are a testament to their ongoing efforts to ensure riders safety on the subway system.
“Our hard work is paying off and the subway system is all the safer for it,” the NYPD Transit Bureau said.
However, the bureau emphasized the importance of continued vigilance in staying safe.
In an effort to enhance passenger safety, a combined force of one thousand National Guardsmen and state police will be stationed throughout the subway network. These security personnel will focus on monitoring the city’s busiest stations and will conduct bag checks to search for weapons.
The National Guard and 250 additional police officers will carry out random bag checks and help patrol New York City’s subway system amid a spike in high-profile crimes, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/J2Zb7QLpEx
Addressing the recent violence, Governor Hochul stated, “These brazen, heinous attacks on our subway system will not be tolerated. So today, in the wake of these latest attacks, I’m unveiling a five-point plan to rid our subways of people who commit crimes and protect all New Yorkers.”
According to local reports, early Thursday, March 7, hours after the governor announced her plan to combat subway crime, a man was stabbed in the hand at a Bronx station. The incident occurred at the Pelham Parkway station, where the victim was trying to prevent two men from harassing a woman. The assailants escaped in a white vehicle.
In a separate incident, police are searching for a suspect who assaulted a 4 train conductor with a glass bottle at the 170th Street station, resulting in minor injuries for the conductor.
“Anyone looking to do harm or spread fear on our subways. You will be caught, plain and simple. There will be consequences. This has to end. New Yorkers deserve no less. And to those who are feeling anxious whenever they walk through those turnstiles. We will stop at nothing to keep you safe,” Hochul said Wednesday, March 6.
NYPD deploys K5 robot to patrol subway station
The New York Police Department has a new transit officer on the force: the “K5” security robot. The city is deploying the robot — in a pilot program — to patrol the Times Square subway station overnight.
While the slow-moving robot can’t physically fight crime, it has four HD cameras. Mayor Eric Adams said the recorded video could be used in case of emergency or an unlawful act.
“Devices like the K5 have the possibility to serve as a deterrent to crime or at least learn best practices while using technology going forward,” Adams said.
Adams also said the K5 will not record audio or employ facial recognition. According to Knightscope, the company that made the robot, it can patrol for 2.5 to 3 hours, then needs to charge for 20-30 minutes. It will be partnered up with a police officer for its two-month trial.
The move is part of the city’s effort to manage crime underground. According to NYPD Transit Chief Michael Kemper, subway crime is down 4.5% from last year.
The use of the robot is the latest example of the NYPD introducing technology into its policing, which has some residents concerned about their privacy.
In an interview with New York 1, New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman called the K5 “dangerous.”
“It risks us getting into the use of surveillance and data collection and intervention in ways that New Yorkers had no idea they were signing up for,” Lieberman said.
Weeks ago, the department stirred controversy when it announced plans to deploy drones in Brooklyn to monitor backyard barbecues over Labor Day weekend.
“For example if we have any 3-1-1 calls — our non-emergency line — where if a caller states there’s a large crowd, a large party in the backyards we’re going to be utilizing our assets to go up to go check on the party to make sure if the call is founded or not and will that will be able to determine how many resources we need to send to that location,” Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said.
Earlier this year, The New York Times reported that robotic dogs came back on the scene. Initially introduced in 2020, the “Digidog” has cameras and lights and it is meant to help in situations that pose a threat to humans.
It was used. But there was backlash.
Shout out to everyone who fought against community advocates who demanded these resources go to investments like school counseling instead.
Now robotic surveillance ground drones are being deployed for testing on low-income communities of color with under-resourced schools 👍🏽 https://t.co/ZqKtnexctb
New York City Council Member Ben Kallos introduced a bill that would ban police from going further and ever using “weaponized” robots — keep in mind the Digidogs were not armed.
Following criticism, the NYPD promptly canceled its contract with the Digidog maker, Boston Dynamics. However, under Mayor Adams, the Digidogs have returned, along with the approximately 400-pound K5.