Jordan Neely’s uncle who pleaded no plea deal for Daniel Penny has been ARRESTED
Christopher Neely was arrested late Monday night after running away from a police pickpocket squad that confronted him at the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan, police sources said.
Jordan Neely’s uncle fled the police and was arrested Monday after being caught with several allegedly stolen credit cards, a day after speaking out against the ex-Marine accused of putting his nephew in a fatal stranglehold, may DailyMail.com exclusive reveal.
Christopher Neely was arrested late Monday night after running away from a police pickpocket squad that confronted him at the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan, police sources said.
He was wanted for a string of robberies in Manhattan when he was approached. After police caught up with him, Neely was found with several credit and debit cards bearing other people’s names, including at least one that was allegedly stolen during a previous pickpocket. According to sources, he also carried a gravity knife.
After being arrested, he admitted to officers that he was the uncle of Jordan Neely, the homeless street performer who died May 1 after a fatal encounter on a subway in Lower Manhattan.
Police charged Neely with criminal possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, bail and unlawful possession of weapons.
He was initially taken to the 14th police station.
Daniel Penny, 24, is being charged with manslaughter in connection with Neely’s death. He was charged after protests called for his arrest.
On Sunday, Christopher Neely stated that Penny shouldn’t get a plea, or “he’ll do it again.”
Police charged Neely with criminal possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, bail and unlawful possession of weapons
Daniel Penny, 24, faces 15 years in prison for putting Jordan Neely, 30, in a deadly stranglehold
Neely also called for criminal charges against the two men who helped Daniel Penny detain Neely during the deadly May 1 encounter on the F train.
“He needs to be prosecuted or he’ll do it again,” Christopher told The New York Post.
“It’s a slap in the face to Jordan’s family and the people of New York,” he said.
Penny broke his silence on Saturday by saying Neely’s death had nothing to do with race.
Neely’s uncle said Penny should not be offered a plea deal by the Manhattan DA’s Office, which charged him with second-degree manslaughter for the on-camera incident.
“I want this to go to court,” Christopher said. “He has too much confidence in himself and needs to be taught that what he did was wrong.”
Penny had said, “I judge a man by his character. I’m not a white supremacist.”
On May 1, Penny put Neely in a fatal chokehold on a New York subway. Neely had threatened passengers
Penny, 24, turned heel after the district attorney’s office announced he would be charged with second-degree manslaughter. He recently said that ‘it’s tragic what happened [Neely]but would do the same in a similar situation
The now infamous video showed Penny restraining Neely with the help of two other passengers after the homeless Michael Jackson impersonator allegedly yelled threats and intimidated people on the train.
The other occupants who helped restrain Neely on the train have not been publicly identified and police are seeking them for questioning.
Neely’s funeral took place in Harlem on Friday, where Rev. Al Sharpton gave a fiery eulogy to a crowd of hundreds, saying “when they strangled Jordan, they put their arms around us.”
But Penny, who is currently out on $100,000 bail, rejected suggestions that his fatal confrontation with Neely was an act of hate or discrimination, saying, “This had nothing to do with race.”
“I mean, it’s, it’s kind of comical. Anyone who has ever met me can tell you: I love all people, I love all cultures,” Penny told The Post.
“You can see it in my past and all my travels and adventures around the world. I was actually planning a road trip across Africa before this happened.
“I’m a normal kid,” Penny added, insisting he’s not a vigilante.
Pallbearers carry Jordan Neely’s coffin days before his uncle said Penny wouldn’t get a plea in the case
Penny, who is from Long Island, faces 15 years in prison in a highly polarizing case, with conservative politicians eager to defend him, and prominent liberals calling for him to be convicted of murder and imprisonment.
He said he doesn’t watch the news and that although he was aware of negative opinions about him, he tried not to be influenced by them.
“When you’re facing all these challenges, you have to stay calm,” he said.
“What’s the point of worrying about something, worrying won’t make your problems go away.
“I blame this on my father and grandfather. They’re very stoic.’
Penny also said he quit social media years ago.
“I don’t follow anyone, and I don’t have social media because I really don’t like the attention and I just think there are better ways to spend your time. I don’t like the spotlight,” he said.