Sidewalk simian believes he’s entitled to your money simply because he exists. Stay clear of them.
A Times Square regular whose sign says “Free Hugs” was arrested for allegedly punching a tourist who didn’t tip him after taking a photograph with him. While being led from the police precinct, Jermaine Himmelstein admitted to reporters, “I was aggressively asking for tips.”
Around 11 a.m. yesterday, Canadian tourist Sophie Violene Dauvios, 22, was apparently taking pictures with a friend on Broadway near West 45th Street when Himmelstein “darted over with a cardboard sign that read, ‘Free Hugs’ and squeezed into one of their photos,” the Post reports.
“The girl was taking photos with her friend, and [he] walked in to get a hug,” said witness Brian Martinez.
After agreeing to give him a hug, Dauvios turned to walk away, apparently causing Himmelstein to snap.
“He puts his arm around one of the girls, and then he pulls out his wallet, like he’s asking for a tip,” said Martinez, a tour-bus sales rep.
When she refused, Himmelstein followed Dauvios down the street and punched her in the eye before dropping the sign and fleeing, cops said.
One witness, Karen Lewis, told the Post, “He hit her pretty hard. It’s going to take a few weeks for that to heal.” Davis was taken to Mount Sinai West for a black eye, cuts and swelling.
Lewis also took a photo of the aftermath:
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