Transcripts For WNBC News 4 New York At 11 20160218

Drivers under siege. New video just in of yet another violent attack on a city bus. Then did you know he was knocked unconscious . And left with a fractured skull. News 4 confronts the suspects in the attack on a tourist who refused to buy their fake tickets. And bill cosby fighting back tonight against a woman whose accusations of Sexual Assault led to his arrest. Good evening. Im chuck scarborough. And im sibila vargas. We begin with that attack on a city bus driver, the second in a span of weeks. A camera captured the assault, the suspect slugging the driver in the face as he sat behind the wheel. Checkey beckford is live in the bronx with a closer look at the man police are trying to identify. Checkey . Reporter and chuck, were hearing from the bus driver tonight, dennis dunwell. He is 69 years old and said he never saw the attack coming. Police believe this was a case of mistaken identity, that the suspect thought the bus driver had passed him at an earlier stop. Be he had the wrong bus driver. And tonight police are looking in my eye and he gave me the hardest shot and caught me in my eye. Reporter the attack caught on that buss surveillance camera shows the man leaning over the drivers seat before police say he punched the 69yearold victim in the face, not once, but twice before taking off. Punch me and was going two ends, two ends at the same time. But i could not move. I couldnt fight back because he got me with one punch in my eye. And that was it for me. I was like a dead dog. Reporter it was just after 6 00 p. M. Tuesday near the corner of southern and eastern fordham road hen the suspect could be seen knocking on the buss closed doors. After they opened, he headed straight for the driver. I thought i would be dead, you know. I was expecting maybe a knife is going to kill me now. Reporter this isnt the first time in recent weeks a driver has been beaten. Video from january showed this man, now identified as clark, driver in east flatbush. Clark was arrested and face adjudges on Assault Charges today. And dennis dunwell, the was driver from tonights incident says he is so shaken up, he has no plans to get behind the wheels of a bus any time soon. Live in the fordham section, checkey beckford, news 4 new york. Thank you. In other news tonight, two suspects, including a woman hauled off to court in connection with an attack on a tourist in lower manhattan. News 4s Natalie Pasquarella was there as the two were led away in handcuffs. Reporter sibila, first things first. We know the tourist at the center of all of this is recovering from a fractured skull. But we know he is in fair condition tonight. As for the two suspects in custody connected to alleged assault, theyre waiting to be arraigned in the courthouse behind me. But earlier i came facetoface with them both. Mr. Andersen, what do you have to say about allegations you punched a tourist in the face . Reporter while the man accused of assaulting a tourist stayed silent tonight, robert do you have anything to say about the assault . Yeah, the tourist assaulted me. Reporter police tell a different story than what Teresa Thorson told me outside the first precinct station house tonight. Around 3 30 monday afternoon, police say thorson approached a 33yearold man visiting from arkansas and tried to sell him fake tickets to the statue of liberty here at the ferry terminal. When the man refused the tickets, police say Robert Andersen punched him in the face with a closed first, knocking him unconscious. Sources tell news 4 investigates andersen has been arrested 11 times in the past six years, including charges related to this weeks alleged assault, criminal contempt, violating a protection order, possession of a knife to name a few. Tonight while andersen and thorson face serious charges, the victim is recovering from a Skull Fracture at bellevue hospital. Now i did put in a request to speak with that victim, but hospital reps tell me the family time. Fair condition tonight. Reporting live from lower manhattan, im Natalie Pasquarella for news 4 new york. Natalie, thank you. And new tonight, a slashing at a manhattan restaurant. Police say a man came into silver spurs restaurant in Greenwich Village about 8 00 this evening and started asking dine force money. The manager made him leave, but he returned moments later and slashed a waiter in the face. That waiter is in serious but stable condition in the hospital. His attacker ran off and has not yet been caught. And were also getting a look at the minivan Police Believe was used in a kidnapping and robbery in brooklyn. A witness says that two masked gunmen forced an unidentified man into this van on east 54th street last tuesday. Suspects. The victim was stabbed several times in the van, and then dumped on east 39th street. The kidnappers got away with cash, debit cards, and an iphone. New tonight, bill cosby is counterattacking, suing the woman at the center of his Sexual Assault case. And her mother of breach of contract. Lawyers for disgraced comedian have declined to comment on the suit, and it remains under seal. Constine accuses cosby of drugging and assaulting her in 2004. A preliminary hearing is set to start next month. Now to the fight against terrorism. Today state leaders and top Security Officials blasted the federal governments plan to slash counterterrorism funding. Last year the city got 180 million in federal antiterror funds. This year the feds want to cut that in half to 90 million. Counter terror patrols, additional bombsniffing dogs and training for officers would all be cut if the president s plan is passed. This is no time for that support to be cut back. A 90 million cut is unconscionable. I dont understand the proposed cuts at a time like this. We would have to almost close our doors if this was cut. They made a big mistake and the mistake shouldnt stand. But late today the white it claims funding is being reduced because the state is sitting on 600 million in unspent funds from past years. But new york Officials Say that the money is already budgeted for future projects. Now to decision 2016 and a dr amatic change of fortunate for donald trump. National polls have consistently shown trump with a wide lead among republican president ial candidates. But a new nbc newswall street journal poll taken after trumps controversial debate performance last weekend shows him slipping to second place among republican voters. The new leader is ted cruz with 28 followed closely by trump with 26 . Marco rubio rounding out the top three with 17 . On the democratic side, a new cnnorc poll shows that Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are now deadlocked in nevada. Clintons doubledigit lead in october evaporating to just a single point, 48 to 47 . In connecticut tonight, one of antonin scalias supreme sadness over scalias death. Justice Steven Breyer routinely took positions that scalia opposed. But in an appearance tonight at yale, breyer said the high court will be a grayer place without him. The white house announced today that Vice President joe biden will attend scal scalias funeral saturday. President obama plans to pay his respects on friday when the late justice will lie in repose at the supreme courts great hall. On his final day in mexico, pope francis celebrated mass at the u. S. Mexico border, and he made an emotional plea about the controversial plea of immigration. In the city of juarez, the pontiff urged the world to recognize the plight of those who risk their lives to leave violence and poverty. He asked for open heart, calling the forced migration of thoughts of Central Americans a human tragedy. I think what the pope is also us all to do is to try to step in his shoes and get into the heart of people who are refugees throughout the world, not just those coming to the united states. The vatican insists the mass on the border was not a political statement but a moral one from a pastor trying to unite a divided world. Is headed to cuba next month. An official announcement is expected from the white house tomorrow. The trip comes after the Obama Administration formally reopened ties with havana in late 2014 after a half century of cold war opposition. Just yesterday the two nations signed a deal to restore commercial air traffic for the first time in five decades. Coming up, as we continue on news 4 new york, he is accused of stalking and a robbing women at gunpoint. The warning tonight about this man. Where police say he has been targeting victims. Plus a teenager accused of opening his own medical clinic. And this isnt the first time he police. Secret for weeks. Now a couple with ties to our area comes forward to claim a share of that billion Powerball Jackpot. How they say persistence paid listen up new york. And its trying to destroy our generation. Its called synthetics. So, some guy thought it might be a good idea to spray poison on some herbs, and then sell it to you. No, its not marijuana. It goes by names like k2, spice, rocks. Causes hallucinations, rapid heartbeat. Vomiting, seizures. And it can kill you the first time you smoke it. We gotta have each others backs. This is our future. And the future of new york is saying no to synthetics go to oasas. Ny. Gov, or call or well, he is not your idea of the typical thief, but the nypd says the 72yearold sydney pfeiffer has spent the last 32 years praying on sleeping subway riders. Police arrested him saturday for moving between two train cars. Officers believe he was searching for more victims. He has been arrested 22 times since 1984. 12 of those arrests have been for stealing from passengers on the train. And new tonight, the nypd has released these photographs of a man accused of trying to snatch a 14yearold girl off a brooklyn street. Witnesses say he approached the girl yesterday afternoon around 4 40 on kings highway in homescrest. Police say he put his arm around her and then grabbed her arm. She managed to break away. Were told the man was last seen running past the Dunkin Donuts at king highway. A search for the man stalking and robbing women at gunpoint. One robbery happening inside a here is news 4s brynn gingras. Reporter the pattern consists of five robberies. They all happened within the past month, and they all happened in manhattan. Police say in all but one case, the suspect followed the victims into their Apartment Building and then robbed them. This is the man police say theyre looking for. In one case, Authorities Say this man even forced the victim into her own home before taking her money and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. In another robbery, police say the suspect robbed the victim at gunpoint in the back of a krestides grocery store. He has an mo, according to authorities. Goes after women, usually near their homes, shows a gun or says he has one, and then robs them. Authorities got this image of him when he tried to use a credit card he stole from a victim in harlem. Right now Police Connect him to robberies that happened in these parts of the city. The upper east side, the lower east side, and west village. Authorities are trying to stop i live in a doorman building. But there is a lot of buildings in the city that arent. So i think women especially have to be really careful. Reporter of course, if you recognize the man in that photo, give police a call. On the upper east side, im brynn gingras, news 4 new york. Well, Doogie Howser he is not. An 18yearold boy accused of opening up his own medical practice without a license. Police arrested malachi love robinson after he did an exam on an undercover officer. I just want to say that i am deeply saddened and a little disrespected by some of the things that have come forth. But i will say that my attorneys are working hard. Theyre working around the clock to make sure that this issue gets resolved in the best way possible. Well, he is also accused of charging an 86yearold woman nearly 3500 for vitamins and stealing more than 2,000 from her. The teen didnt address the charges against him, but he did have a request. Please pray for news this time that everything that has happened that we get the truth out of it. Last year the teen was arrested after he roamed the halls of a hospital in a lab coat and stethoscope for an entire month. Police say in that case, he was caught in an exam room. His mother says he has an undisclosed illness and was off his medications. Before you turn off the lights, a warning tonight. Dont sleep with your smartphone. The nypd tweeted these photos of a scorched pillow. This is the aftermath of a cell phone that was plugged into a charge theyre ovheated and caught fire. No word on where this happened or if anybody was hurt. But police are advising you to leave your charging phones a nightstand. Dont take them to bed. Tomorrow, winners of the record breaking Powerball Jackpot came forward. For weeks the couple has kept their lifechanging news a secret, not even telling their here they are holding a check for nearly 5 30 ly ly 530 million. Theyve been playing the same number for years. And finally it paid off bigtime. I checked the ticket. And everything matched up. So i said she is messing with me. We didnt believe it. We kept watching tv and going online and rechecking and rechecking. Maureen and david chose to take the lump sum. That will be about 328 million. Wow. The investment finally paid off. 30 years. Imagine, that playing the same number. Yes. Persistence pays, i guess. All right. How is our weather . It was a nice day. Different than yesterday. Yeah, big difference. It was quieter today. It was little cloudy. And at least we didnt have to deal with storms. And the craziness in terms of the weather. But tonight its a little cooler in some spots. You may need a couple extra layers tomorrow. Ill tell you why in the forecast coming up. Right now lets take a look outside. A nice beautiful one. And its quiet out there. Its just getting cooler. We have some canadian air moving in tonight with a weak cold front. But its not the arctic air. 35 degrees right now in the park. But it feels like 29. Those breeze also continue to pick up overnight. Its going to be rather gusty tomorrow. But well have more sunshine in the area versus what we saw today. And by this weekend, were back into the 50s. They do come back on saturday and sunday. But a few morning showers, mainly north of the city on saturday. Most areas will be dry. High temperature 54. Sunday, 51. And maybe some sprinkles in the evening on sunday. So its not a washout this weekend. Right now across long island, from Middle Village out to the hamptons, your temperatures are in the mid30s. A little bit colder tonight once that front comes through. Youre down to 27 already in newburgh. Poughkeepsie at 33. A westerly breeze blowing right now. But its on the light side. So the feelslike temperatures arent all that cold. Maybe about 5 degrees colder than the actual temperatures. Teens and 20s scattered around the area. So its going to be chilly overnight and in the morning too. If you like snow flurries flying across parts of the hudson back through the catskills, a part of that front that is coming through. And winds blowing off the lakes and bringing in the colder air. But its not like the cold that we saw last weekend. Not at all. February cold. So well have windchills in the teens in the morning. Maybe a couple of spots in the single digits. Temperatures will rise above freezing tomorrow. But not that far, but well have a nice sunny day. We start out sunny on friday, but shower or two possible on friday night. Nothing major but temperatures in the low 40s. Next week, the west will be dry. A coastal storm will be developing along the gulf coast. The tracking and timing still rather uncertain, because its so far away still. Were talking tuesday night into wednesday. But right now, the computer forecast showing a milder storm track for us, meaning more rain than snow. But there might be some snow well north and west. In the meantime, temperatures are in the 20s tonight across the area. So its a cold one, a few flurries north and west. And even a few teens here and there like around liberty. But keep in mind as the winds increase, well have more of a chill in the morning and throughout the day tomorrow. The city of smithtown. North and west, you may see some temperatures below freezing tomorrow. So it is going to be on the cool side. But well slowly warm up going into the weekend. Fridays high 42. Were in the mid50s on saturday. And above 50 on sunday. The average highs about 40, 42 degrees. So here we go. Upper 40s on monday. And then of course were tracking and seeing what is going to happen tuesday night into wednesday. Storm team 4 will have an update tomorrow morning at 4 30 on today in new york. Sports. Oh, the hockey was good tonight at the garden. A taste of playoff hockey in february. The rangers more than held their own with the defending champs tonight. Even taking a late lead on chicago. But then a rookie stole the garden spotlight. And if you think youre excited for mets baseball, try neil walker, the new mets second baseman sets the tone for spring training, coming up in sports. Here is what jimmy fallon has tonight. Hey, guy, jennifer lopez, music from zayn and were in l. A. All week. Do not change the channel. Remember the story we tolled you about the new jersey letter carrier held hostage by a flock of wild turkeys . Made by the local postmaster. Youre not going to believe this, but i got a carrier attacked by wild turkeys, wont let him deliver the mail. The guy was laughing is the 911 operator. The angry birds had that mailman trapped in his truck on Esplanade Drive in hillsdale. The officers showed up and shooed the turkeys back into the woods and the man was able to complete his rounds. Radio flyer is teaming with tesla to make cars for kids. Its called the model s and looks just like a miniature version. One big difference, though, it has a top speed of only 6 miles an hour, okay. The model s is battery powered. It can go backward and forward and also has working headlights. Its really cute. The price tag, 499, and its set to go on sale in may. You can already preorder them. There. You go. Very cool. You can fit stuff in there. And with stuff, just like the real model s. And a lot less. The verizon fios sports desk is brought to you by verizon fios. Leave slow internet behind. Get fios. Well, the rangers had their champs. This is a measuring stick game tonight. They see themselves, the rangers do, as a stanley cup contend their year. And tonight they got to see how they stack up against the chicago blackhawks. Defending champs put a 2zip lead on the board at the garden. But before the blue shirts could goals. Dan boyle, Corey Crawford on a second effort. And the power play goal puts the range owners top. But the hawks tie it on a power play of their own. Rangers led shaw sneak through the past door. Hank got no help here. And its 33, just like that. The difference, another power play. With under four minutes to go, rookie finishes on a perfect feed from patrick kane who is comfortably the points leader. Panera had a hat trick. The rangers looked like the better team, even strength. Their penalty kill continues to struggle. 26 in the nhl. Rangers fall 53, their first to college hoops. Tonight was the night for st. Johns. If ever they were going to snap this 16game losing streak, it was going to happen against 816 depaul. St. Johns last win, believe this or not came on december 13th. Its been a long time. The red storm were all fired up in the first half. Check out this alleyoop from malik ellison. Oh, boy, that i were going get the job done tonight. Great reach to grab the ball. Johnnys led 3124 at the half. More of the same in the second half. Christion jones feeding inside for the slam. And then durant johns from downtown. Putting st. Johns up 18. And yes, chris mullen finely gets his first big east victory as coach. 8065. Everyone can exhale. Good win for the johnnys. Down in d. C. , seton hall visiting georgetown. Show this for an early highlight. Isaiah whitehead feeding desi rodriguez. My goodness. And then the hall held off the hoyas with good defense in the second half. It helps when Isaiah Whitehead is hitting from three. Seton hall improves to 187. 7264 the win. It was kevin willards 100th victory as head coach at seton hall. Stony brook also lost to albany. That ends their 18game winning streak that was the long nest the nation. What a great run by the seawolfs. The giants have resigned long snapper zack diatzi. Today, new second baseman neil walker was the center of attention. Walker was imported from pittsburgh to offset the loss of daniel murphy. Walker had spent his entire career with the pirates, which must have been nice since he was born in pittsburgh. But the biggest benefit to his new digs, he doesnt have to face the mets rotation anymore. Yeah, thats probably the top thing on my list of why im excited to be a met is to not you know, even though it would have been the couple times a year. But its exciting on the about to be on the other side of it. We know what were capable of. Im really happy to be a part of i. You would be smile together if you didnt have to face high heat from matt harvey, jacob degrom. Thats a look at sports. Tough loss for the rangers tonight. But they showed some mettle at least. Thank you so much. You got it. [ male announcer ] eight hours after you quit smoking, your bloood oxygen level returns to normal. In 3 months your lung function and ten years after you quit your risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker. But right now. Youre one cigarette closer to cancer. Every cigarette makes you sick. Quit smoking today. [ siren wailing ] all across america families are coming back to Time Warner Cable for a whole new experience. Pwe came back for internet speeds so fast even the kids are impressed. Oh shes impressed. Were catching up on movies and shows on demand just as fast as we can watch them. Twcs home wifi is so strong we can use all our devices at the same time. Come back today. Youll get 100 meg internet, tv, phone and more for 89. 99 a month. And ask how you could get a 300 reward card. The toronto zoos panda cubs are on the move, were told. Just four months old now, and the brother and sister are taking their first wobbly steps. You can actually see one of them even manages to climb over a small log inside their enclosure. How cute. The zoo hopes to be able to let the visitors get a look at the baby pandas by midmarch. Theyre just amusing doing almost nothing. I know. They weigh about 3 1 2 ounces at birth. So theyve come a long way in four month. Absolutely. And growing. Thats it for news 4 new york at 11 00. The tonight show is straight ahead. Today in new york begins at 4 30. Good night and well see you tomorrow. [ cheers and applause ] steve from stage one at Universal Studios hollywood, in los angeles, california, its