Washington Square Park violence spreads restaurant chefs are injured

On Saturday, violence in and around Washington Square Park continued to spiral out of control. An elderly chef was viciously attacked in the morning at a nearby restaurant.

According to the New York Post, the restaurant is located at the junction of 6th Avenue and West Fourth Street. According to police, the chaos at the restaurant began at around 9:45 a.m., when a deranged man was asked to leave the restaurant after a frenzy of indigestion.

Police confirmed the man, Gregory Conwell, 27, from the Red Hook district of Brooklyn. He allegedly pushed a 77-year-old chef onto a glass and ran into the park. Park staff said three brave staff members found him and held him under control until police arrived.

New York police said the restaurant's 77-year-old chef was pushed against a glass window by him as he tried to escort Conwell away from the restaurant. A staff member claimed that during the fight, a crack tube fell out of Conwell's pocket.

Staff and police said the injured cook Constantino, who had been scratched on the back of his head, had been taken to Lenox Hill Hospital for treatment after the riots.

A restaurant worker pursuing the attacker said the man allegedly bit his arm during the ensuing park brawl.

This isn't the first time the restaurant has been in chaos. Restaurant manager George Tuckers said: "This window has been broken at least 5 times in the last 5 years. They think the best way to hurt you is to break your window.""

Restaurant employees are also frustrated by the repeated violence. One employee told: "This kind of thing happens a lot and the police can't do anything unless someone is injured. The employee added that the restaurant is close to the problem park and is therefore often a target for troublemakers.

A NYPD spokeswoman said Conwell was charged with felonies because the victim was over 65 years old. Conwell has also been charged with criminal pranks for biting a restaurant employee in Washington Square Park.

Police said Conwell was arrested last year in Brooklyn after biting another man in a bar dispute.

(Compiled: gc)