A surveillance camera captured the moments a good Samaritan got walloped on a Midtown sidewalk in New York City on Wednesday morning after he tried to help a homeless man by giving him his coat.
The 59-year-old victim got into unexpected trouble after he tried to help 25-year-old Xavier Israel, who was lying on a sidewalk in front of 476 5th Ave. at around 8:40 a.m., according to sources.
The surveillance video shows after the good Samaritan gently covering Israel with his jacket. Israel immediately shoots to his feet and starts pushing the man to the ground before snatching the wallet from his back pants pocket, according to footage obtained by The New York Post.
When the victim tries to get his wallet back, Israel punches him and throws him back to the ground, the video shows.
Israel then took off on foot but was arrested shortly after on West 41st St. and 5th Ave., sources said.
Police officers recovered nearly $1,500 from Israel after witnesses told them that Israel stuffed cash inside his pants.
Israel faces multiple charges, including assault, robbery, and grand larceny, according to local sources. The victim refused medical attention on the scene.
This isn’t the first time Israel allegedly turned on a good Samaritan. The latest attack marked the second time in less than a week.
On Saturday, Israel is accused of battering a 49-year-old woman who wanted to help outside of a building on East 81st Street in the Upper East Side, sources said.
Israel reportedly pushed the woman to the ground, and the woman sustained a cut to her elbow. Israel was arrested, charged with assault, and released on a desk appearance ticket, sources said.
On Jan. 2, Israel was accused of assaulting two more victims – a man and a woman inside Central Park. He is accused of randomly punching the two victims, both 18, as they sat on a rock inside the green space.
Israel was also arrested for the Central Park incident and charged with assault, sources said.
