Suspect (NYPD)
Aug. 14, 2018 By Tara Law
Police have arrested a 26-year-old man who allegedly mugged five Astoria women in their twenties at knifepoint.
Donald Grier, a 26-year-old Parks and Recreation employee, was arrested at 8 p.m. last night and charged with one count of robbery. Police said that Greir’s last known residence was 34-15 12th St., a Ravenswood Houses building.
Grier first targeted a woman, 27, at 11:30 p.m. on July 28 in front of 34-19 33rd St., police said. Grier allegedly displayed a machete and took $120 out of her purse.
At 11:05 p.m. the next day, he allegedly robbed a 23-year-old woman near 30-62 36 St. at knifepoint and took $60 cash from her.
Next, Grier allegedly attacked a 21-year-old woman on July 31 at 4:30 a.m. on the corner of 43rd Street and 31st Avenue. He choked her and grabbed her wallet, which contained credit cards and $30 in cash. The victim walked to New York Presbyterian Hospital of Queens, where she was treated for cuts and scrapes.
The suspect went after another woman on Aug. 3 at 12:52 a.m. He walked up to the victim, 29, as she was walking into her home near 43rd Street and 34th Avenue. The suspect shoved her into her building’s lobby and tried to pull her bag away, but took off without managing to steal it.
FInally, Grier allegedly grabbed a 28-year-old woman from behind on Aug. 5 at 12:43 a.m. in front of 34-35 29th St. He put the victim into a chokehold and snatched her purse, which contained credit cards, and fled the scene.
The police investigation of these incidents is ongoing.
