WITH 60 PRIOR ARRESTS, WHY WAS THIS CAREER CRIMINAL STILL ON THE STREETS?

Here’s what a career criminal chose as first NYC bust 

 

By Tina Moore

 

New York Post

August 22, 2021 

 

A career criminal made his debut in the Big Apple on Saturday when he tried to torch a cop car in Manhattan, police officials said.

Allen Watkins — who has 60 prior arrests under his belt outside of New York — was busted around 12:15 p.m. after he was seen lighting a rag that was placed into the fuel tank of a police car at 524 W. 42 St. in Manhattan, police said. 

Police officers spotted the 49-year-old suspect at West 46th Street and Eighth Avenue and arrested him. He was charged with arson and criminal mischief, a police spokesman said.

 

          The rag Watkins allegedly tried to place inside the tank of an NYPD car

 

While he has no prior arrests in the city, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea wrote on Twitter that Watkins had 60 busts elsewhere.

“A former fugitive with more than 60 arrests across 5 states added NYC to his resume yesterday,” Shea tweeted.

“Arrested after trying to torch a marked NYPD vehicle, he’s now facing arson charges. My thanks to everyone involved for their fast & thorough work on this!” the city’s top cop said.