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4/19/10 If you live anywhere between Bedford and Classon Avenues, beware. There is a guy who lives on Sterling Place (693) who walks the neighborhood ripping tree branches off of street trees. He apparently does this every year around springtime. He did it recently (this past Saturday or Sunday). I have called 311 and made a report to the Parks Department, I have called the 77th Precinct and had a conversation with the desk sergeant who assured me that they would investigate the matter. I did this approximately 3 weeks ago when he attacked a few trees on my block. Nothing has happened. Apparently I am not the only person to have called the cops. A neighbor told me that he was visited by the police, but they failed to arrest him because the call was made anonymously. Apparently this guy has a mental problem. The word on the street is that he receives some sort of monthly stipend that his mother uses to subsidize her own living.This is a very frustrating situation. I have seen him ripping branches off of trees with my own eyes. His daily routine is to walk on Franklin Avenue and stand at the corner of Franklin and Eastern Parkway. He talks to himself and then walks back home. He is about 5 feet 10, he has a beard, two braids in his hair and is usually wearing baggy jeans and a dark (black) bomber jacket. Any suggestions?
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I've seen him often. As far as I know he's harmless, especially when compared to dealers who are breaking the law while sane. He does look sort of creepy, and I might feel different if I was a woman, but he's been around for a long time and if all he's done is rip tree branches down, why are you assuming he's dangerous (like I said, when compared to the many more young guys around who are clearly drug-involved)?
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I would like you to re-read my entry. Nowhere did I say I assume he is dangerous. Maybe you would feel differently about it if he seasonally damaged something you had a sense of propriety over, such as you car, or your apartment window. It just so happens that he ripped off branches on a tree that I asked the city to plant in front of my building two years ago. I have been taking care of this tree. I plant flowers at the base of it, I water it, I fertilize it, pick up the dog shit around it, and I ask the neighborhoood kids to respect it, and for the most part they have -- including the 'dealers who are breaking the law while sane'. Keep in mind, the dealers are simply meeting demand. If those to whom they sell didn't buy, there wouldn't be dealers. These trees live. They -- like you and I -- breathe. This guy IS dangerous. I have spoken to his neighbors and all have said that they are afraid of him. I had a conversation with a guy who claims to be his brother-in-law, and he told me at some point in the past, this guy pulled a knife on him. He also told me that this guy receives money from the state for his disability, and with it he buys services from whores whom he brings into his mother's house. So he too is engaged in activity with 'dealers who are breaking the law while sane.' I had a conversation with a gentleman across the street who told me he also caught him in the act of attempting to break a branch off a tree he asked the city to plant in front of his brownstone, and he told the guy (his name is 'Steve' I think) that if he didn't stop, he would call the police. He did. How crazy is he if he has the cognition to understand consequence? I caught him attempting to break a branch off a tree in front of the community counseling mediation clinic on Franklin between St. John's and Sterling, and I asked him why was he doing that. He stopped, and walked away. Holla Peno, I am very upset about this. You should see what he did to 'my' tree. I have to look at that tree every day now in its bruised state. It's very upsetting. Today on Sterling Place -- and on other streets the city is finally planting more trees. Who did I see walking on Sterling? Crazy Steve. How harmless is he if he is destroying property? The weed-slingers on the street is a huge problem. I have made my peace with that element; I'm Zen with it. I understand that they are the result of being under-employed -- and that is the result of choice, social hierarchy, and social circumstance. At least the Crip dudes, as they sell their product, have the presence of mind NOT to trample my mint plants, but this guy is literally scarring trees. He has damaged practically ALL the trees on Franklin Avenue, St. Johns (He ripped a 18 foot branch off a tree on St. John's!), Bedford Avenue, and Sterling Place -- at least. He IS dangerous. There, I've said it.
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I think I might have seen this guy on Flatbush last night, breaking a branch off of a tree between Park and Prospect.
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Wouldn't be surprised, Carnivore....apparently he hit a bunch of trees on Park Pl btwn Carlton and Vanderbilt a few weeks back, and piled all the broken branches in front a brownstone mid-block. There were notes up asking neighbors to call the police if they saw him in action.
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Is this the dude who usually is wearing dark blue or black jeans and coat I've seen around?? Looks crazy, I was wondering his deal..
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And a hat?
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dude is harmless--but still acts like a jackass.
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TeReKeTe » dude is harmless--but still acts like a jackass.
Breaking tree branches is off- but what's really off is laying in to crazy people when you don't know what it's like to be in their head. -
Let's break a few of his limbs off to teach him a lesson.
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I saw him last week tearing branches off and I called 311 who filed a complaint for the parks department to come in and assess the damage. I didn't know what else to do...
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Lord, he's been doing this for years. He hit three trees on Park Place between Classon and Franklin. And since we just got all these new trees planted, I think they're next on his hit list.
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Whatever the cause of his behavior, this individual is a serious detriment to the community. Part of what makes a block "nice" is the trees. The city has been really good over the past few years about planting trees in areas that had previously been neglected. The money won't necessarily be there in the years ahead to plant more trees to replace ones that succumb to his depredations. His vandalism of these community assets is unacceptable, and if it is because of mental illness, it is in his interest and the interests of the community to see that he gets the help he needs. It is definitely appropriate to call the precinct to try to initiate that process.
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So THAT'S what happened to my tree branch......
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The dude's name is STEVE. He lives at 693 Sterling Place. I have called 311. I have called the 77th Precinct. Other people have called the cops on this guy. Someone told me last night that if you see him doing it, and claim that there is someone acting in a 'psychotic way', they can lock him up. This is tremendously frustrating. I am conflicted about this guy. It's obvious he has a mental issue, and I have no reason to think that the state's rehabilitative ability will do anything to help him. Personally, despite his condition, I believe that if he feared CONSEQUENCE, he wouldn't rip off branches, but he doesn't. I swear to you, if I see him doing it, I am gonna step in. I might lose the fight, but he is gonna feel consequence.
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There are plenty of crazy people out there who manage to refrain from damaging other people's property on a daily basis. The mentally ill excuse is bullshit.Go do something useful.
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Caeopele, I agree. A neighbor across the street on Sterling and I had a convo about this guy. He made an attempt to rip the branches off of the tree he had planted. He told him, if you do that I am going to cll the police; homeboy stopped. When I saw him making an attempt to rip the branch off a tree on Franklin a few Fridays ago -- it was the second tree to the left of Bristen's on Franklin between Sterling and Lincoln, -- he stopped. Regardless of how nuts he is, he has some self awareness to acknowledge social disapproval. I am VERY upset about this. I really took care of 'my' tree. I mean, I watered it, planted flowers around it, tilled the fucking soil, and this crazy motherfucker comes along and rips the branches off -- and there is no consequence. I can say this with impunity: He's a savage. There is something uncivilized about it. Fuck the liberal sensibility about the failings of Society. This bastard has injured at least 50 trees. If he had the tendency to break car windows, then we wouldn't give a rat's ass about his mental faculties. He would be fucked up, but because he is destroying some 'things' that people have little sense of propriety over, then he is tolerated. One day this motherfucker is going to hurt someone and when the newscaster reports it, EVERYONE Is going to say, 'Oh yeah, we all knew he was crazy...' And this is what pisses me off about the criminal element in our neighborhood. I have no illusions about the criminal element. It will ALWAYSexist, but the fact that THEY don't have a sense of propriety about THEIR community tells me that they aren't intelligent criminals; they are NIHILISTS who have NO values. If they had values, they would recognize that the semblance of safety helps THEY too. But they DON'T. It's all Hobbesian out there. THEY would be the first to tell that motherfucker to leave the trees alone. You have all of these surly Crips dudes walking around talking about these streets as 'theirs' and they can't police it to prevent the destruction homeboy is doing? What does that tell you? It tells me that the whole sense of propriety these guys have is slanted, and inaccurate. THey don't own shit.. They're just hustling and not giving a fuck.
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MHA » If he had the tendency to break car windows, then we wouldn't give a rat's ass about his mental faculties. He would be fucked up, but because he is destroying some 'things' that people have little sense of propriety over, then he is tolerated.
This. It's the "it's just a tree" mentality. Wait until it's something they care about, then they'll be pissed.Go do something useful. -
Agreed caseopele. And wholeheartedly so. The reason there is so much degradation of the quality of life around here has a great deal to do with what people take responsibility over. For the most part, if people are not expending money on the 'its' in the neighborhood, then most truly feel they have no sense of propriety/ownership/responsibility of it'; thus the irony of the well-dressed, blinged-out homeboy stepping out of his fancy car only to drop garbage on the street or take a piss against a building, or better, the manner in which people ignore the garbage that swirls around their feet. As I write this my neighbors sit on the building steps as their neices, nephews and grandchildren play on the sidewalk, the garbage that THEY throw indiscriminately swirling in the breeze. My neighbor downstairs complains to me bitterly about how the kids in the area have no respect of 'other people's things' but he has no concern about the gathering dust in his hallway, or any concern for this crazy motherfucker going around ripping off tree branches. I saw the same dude standing on Franklin Avenue, right near the corner of Eastern Parkway. He was standing in front of the vintage furniture place just looking into space. Again, my own irritation is related to my own 'investment'. I didn't put the tree in the ground, but I've watered it, fertilized it, and cared for it for two years now. It is frustrating to feel wronged and to get no redress. I feel disempowered, and I don't know what to do to rectify the situation.
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I saw Tree Breaker again today. He was walking and smiling, no doubt contemplating his next attack. Did I say this guy lives at 693 Sterling Place? Oh yeah, I did.
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Walked right by TB today. He's eyeing the trees folks...
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Look what someone did to our tree on Sunday, I'm so pissed!
A cop saw me taking pictures and came over to see what was up. When I told him about the tree and the "crazy" guy who likes to fuck with them, he knew exactly who I was talking about. Someone asked me if I saw the person who did it and a friend told them "Of course not, she's not in jail right now". Which I found kinda funny since I do tend to mouth off at times but only if I'm prepared to back it up. I guess I could always use my own version of Uncle Jimbo's excuse. "He was coming right for me!"Go do something useful. -
I'm going to sound like a damn hippie here, but that poor tree! What a horrible thing to do.(\__/)
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That's okay, Mama. I think I'm a damn treehugger now, I refuse to go all crunchy granola though!Go do something useful.
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That's an awfully big branch to be broken by a person...are you sure the branch wasn't taken out by a passing truck? Not that it makes it any better from the trees perspective.
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It's on the inside, not the street side. But I did find out what happened to the tree! One of the neighborhood idiots was trying to train his pit bull to fight and made it attack the tree. Genius!Go do something useful.
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Seriously? How high up is that?i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness
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I did this approximately 3 weeks ago when he attacked a few trees on my block.
i agree that this guy should stop...but this thread is fucking hilarious -
I don't know what's worse- the tree breaker or the moron who's teaching his poor dog to fight. It's all sickening."...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa
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the tree breaker or the moron who's teaching his poor dog to fight.
you should post his name and address. i'll call 311 constantly. can you give some details? -
Regarding pit bulls and trees --- it doesn't matter how high the tree is. The owners of these dogs usually lift the dog and put the dog's mouth either around the branch, or they get a piece of rope and put it around the branch and then have the dogs hang from the rope. I have seen this done frequently in Prospect Park. I have told the cops myself about the tree branch breaker -- having called 311. I know that their have been police alerted about this guy -- his name is Steve and he lives at 693 Sterling Place -- yet nothing has come of it. What else can one do? I mean, that's what you do, right? Personally I believe RACE is a factor here; not tree branch breaker's race but my own. Bluntly, if you are white, please, call 311, sound as white as possible, and have the 311 operator transfer you to the 77th precinct.. I KNOW this is a horrible thing to say, but, sadly I believe it to be the truth. Suppose this guy was breaking car windows, or threatening children? If you don't believe me about race, then fine, I have said so much on the subject in other places I am not gonna bug anyone ad nauseum here. Caseopele, I am so sorry about the tree in fornt of your home. I know it hurts to see that, and I am sure that the tree is hurting for it. Please, call 311 and alert them. This guy walks up and down the street and nothing has come of it.
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The dog apparently bit the tree trunk enough to loosen a good piece of bark then ripped it up. Fortunately, the moron gave the dog to a guy I know up the street who I know is a big dog lover. I'm helping him get the dog neutered, vaxed, and micro-chipped. The somewhat hilarious thing about all this is that the dog has as much fighting instinct as a 2 week old kitten. MHA, the cop who saw me taking the pictures didn't care too much about my whiteness or the tree. Ooh, I was going to make a snarky comment about getting a better response if it was Park Slope but I caught myself just in time!Go do something useful.
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caseopele » Fortunately, the moron gave the dog to a guy I know up the street who I know is a big dog lover. I'm helping him get the dog neutered, vaxed, and micro-chipped. The somewhat hilarious thing about all this is that the dog has as much fighting instinct as a 2 week old kitten.
Trees are one thing, but dogs are Caseo's thing! Yay, Caseo!!! Another pup saved from a life of fighting just because it's a pit!"...you can choose the rain....but I choose the sun..." - N. Costa -
OT but this dog is a sweetie! He looks tough (they cropped his ears, grrr) but he turns into this huge smiley wigglebutt when I make kissy noises at him. Apparently the moron may want him back so we want to get him neutered asap. The moron probably won't want him back then but if he does we're getting him chipped with my friend's info. Ok, back on topic. I'm still really pissed about the tree and told the guy not to let the dog do it anymore. I don't get the whole destroying trees thing, they provide us with freaking oxygen! And I sure as hell don't buy the mentally ill excuse.Go do something useful.
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Hum, maybe there's a way the pit can be 'sent away' aka lost so this guy can't get him back?(\__/)
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Well, if we can get some records in my friend's name then the moron has no claim to him. Possession is 9/10 of the law! This dog needs to be with my friend, he loves the dog already and hates that they cropped his ears.Go do something useful.
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Regarding pit bulls and trees --- it doesn't matter how high the tree is. The owners of these dogs usually lift the dog and put the dog's mouth either around the branch, or they get a piece of rope and put it around the branch and then have the dogs hang from the rope. I have seen this done frequently in Prospect Park.
oh...well that doesn't prove dog fighting or intent to fight your dog. there's nothing wrong with doing this. it's good exercise for the dog. when you tie a rope around a tree and let the dog hang, it's called a "spring pole." the dogs love it, it's good exercise, and it tires them out. i use something called a "flirt pole" with my pooch...you get a mop stick and tie a stuffed animal around a shoelace and wrap it around the end of the pole and swing it around...hilarity ensues. these things, like treadmills, CAN be used to train dogs to fight, but only because it gets them in shape. it doesn't make them more aggressive or anything like that. -
edit: it's wrong to let the dog hang on the tree if it's ruining the tree and disturbing neighbors
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mr. met » i use something called a "flirt pole" with my pooch...you get a mop stick and tie a stuffed animal around a shoelace and wrap it around the end of the pole and swing it around...hilarity ensues.
In our house (or in the yard) we do this with flashlights or bubbles. He goes nuts.i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness -
In our house (or in the yard) we do this with flashlights or bubbles.
haha. laser pointers are fun too. -
Yes, totally. And to that I would add shadow puppets on the wall or wherever. Low-tech, but just as effective.i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness
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By the way, every time I see the title of this thread I think of a potential soundtrack for our Tree Breaker man coming down the block...
Led Zeppelin - Heartbreaker 
Found at skreemr.org 
i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness -
This guy went up and down Park Place tonight breaking all the trees. PM me, because I want to call the cops. This is crazy.
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You saw him? Did you stop him?
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No, it was after the fact, unfortunately, but it seems like he's upped his breaking lately. So frustrating.
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And after walking up and down Park Place, between Classon and Franklin, this morning, I noticed he's hit every freaking tree—even the new ones just planted. I shall make my 311 call today. After living here seven years, I was so excited to have new trees planted on the block. Now, jeez.
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Subject: 693 Sterling Place Tree Breaker
Was at it again this morning. Since we know his name AND his address -- WHY can't we all just call and complain until he stops? I personally saw him this morning breaking trees, yelled STOP, he stopped, and then shortly afterwards walked into his home at 693 Sterling Place. I am sorry he is unbalanced. But why does the city want to spend money -- broke as it is -- on new trees and then just let this guy wreck them? -
^ so, did YOU call and complain?Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball!
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He killed a tree in front of 711 Sterling. I mean, he broke it at its base. He attacked trees all along Franklin, as well. Even on Bedford and Park Place there are broken branches. He broke so many branches on the tree in front of Bristen's. I can't believe this. There's a guy who lives at 711, he came outside and when he saw the tree on the ground his face just went slack. Another neighbor in the same building said, "Yeah, he was at it again!" The first guy picked the broken tree up (It was a young tree) walked it over to 693 Sterling and threw it onto the property.
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On the phone with 311 right now. If you care a bit about the greenery in the neighborhood, I recommend everyone flood the lines today.
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