Alexander Ayala, 24, was charged with identity theft and possession of stolen property after snatching a woman's cellphone and credit card. He later attempted to use her Amazon credit card.
Despite the charges against him, the Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Simiyon Haniff allowed Ayala to leave on his own recognizance, citing that the charges were not bail-eligible.
Ayala had previously been involved in a violent incident at a Manhattan shelter where he faced charges for assaulting police officers, but was also released on supervised terms.
Authorities expressed concern as Ayala was allowed to walk free given his past offenses, including domestic violence, which illustrated a broader issue of repeat offenders in the justice system.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]