Man Arrested in Yonkers Again, Police Ask for Bail Reform
On Feb. 12, Anthony Arias, 25, from the Bronx was arrested by Yonkers Police at Burlington Coat Factory
In a post, the YPD explains below how bail reform is needed.
Dear New York State Legislature: Bail reform has degraded the quality of life in our region and led to an increase in crime and lawlessness. Thieves and recidivist property offenders have been empowered to literally stroll through our retail stores and steal what they want with impunity. These perpetrators have no fear of committing crimes or getting caught. Why?
On Feb. 12, Yonkers Police arrested 25-year-old Anthony Arias of the Bronx for felony shoplifting from Burlington Coat Factory at 2500 Central Park Avenue. This was his 17th arrest since January 2022 – that’s more than one a month. Anthony has failed to appear in court at least six times: he had two open arrest warrants and four open bench warrants. If there are no consequences for bad behavior, if the criminal justice system is literally a revolving door, then we are failing in our duty to protect the public.
Courts must have the discretion to jail offenders based on their propensity to reoffend or the danger they pose to the community. Fix our laws. Put victims and law-abiding citizens first,” writes the YPD.
Arias was charged with Grand Larceny, Shoplifting, and False Personation, for giving police a fake name. The point is he’s been arrested 17 times in 13 months, has zero convictions, keeps getting arrested, and keeps getting out to reoffend. Is that fair to the law abiding citizens of Yonkers? And those shopping on Central Avenue?
Last month, the Rev. Al Sharpton called for some type of criminal justice reform. “Many of us have spent the better part of a year calling for our criminal justice system to be fine-tuned. Addressing public safety is a question of how, not if, which is why I convened New York’s unprecedented number of Black citywide and statewide leaders this month to start that conversation. Let me be clear that we’re not retreating from the hard-fought reforms that ended the jailing of men of color on Rikers simply for the crime of being too poor. But there are tweaks that can turn these good reforms into great ones by addressing issues like recidivism, giving our District Attorneys the right tools, and helping the thousands of mentally ill New Yorkers forced out onto the streets. This is a moment where Black leaders will show why voters put them in office. It is on all of us to support their efforts and stand up to those who want to turn back the clock on justice. I know we are up to that challenge.” said Sharpton.
