The uncle of Jordan Neely, whose chokehold death on the subway sparked outcry, has appeared in court charged with carrying a switchblade and handling stolen credit cards.
Christopher Neely, 44, was escorted in handcuffs for his arraignment at the Manhattan Criminal Court Wednesday after he was busted Monday while trying to flee the NYPD’s pickpocket team.
The career crook, who has a lengthy rap sheet like his late nephew, was hit with four felonies including possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, bail jumping, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He was also charged with eight misdemeanors.
His arraignment comes days after he demanded officials not give a plea deal to Daniel Penny, the ex-marine who choked out his 30-year-old nephew, whose death has sparked fierce debate about self-defense and homelessness in the Big Apple.
‘He needs to be prosecuted or he will do it again,’ Neely told the New York Post on Sunday. ‘It’s a smack in the face for Jordan’s family and the people of New York.’