Seriously Fresh Fresh Direct Employee

A terrible reminder that there are lunatics everywhere: Prosecutors have charged a FreshDirect deliveryman with making obscene calls to Manhattan women who ordered groceries online. Bronx resident Erik Reynolds called six female FreshDirect customers, saying things like "I'm going to come up and rape you" and telling one eight months pregnant woman he knew what she was wearing, as well as her address and phone number. Reynolds had also called another eight months pregnant woman. The criminal complaint quotes Reynolds as saying, "I was just doing it for fun. I like to play around on the phone. When I make deliveries to women, I like to flirt and then I call them to play around. I shouldn't have done it." Reynolds' wife tells the Post, "Right now, he's very upset. Him and his co-workers were trying to kill some time playing jokes. But he's the only one being blamed because the calls were made on his cellphone." Gothamist think Reynolds and his wife need a serious lesson in what is and isn't fun. This news calls into question FreshDirect's employee screening procedures: FreshDirect said a nationwide search showed no signs of Reynolds' ex-con past (two felony convictions for possession of stolen property and attempted burglary). Reynolds' lawyer pointed out Reynolds' clean record since 1993, but prosecutors noted that Reynolds used fake Social Security numbers to get around screening procedures. Gothamist would like to suggest that people get Caller ID, and only answer phone numbers they recognize; if there are obscene phone calls, call up Verizon or 311 to see what other measures you should take to have calls traced or blocked. As for dealing with leering delivery people, we suppose you could ask a neighbor or friend to help out, or wear baggy clothing and no make-up, but the whole situation is such a distasteful invasion of privacy, it's upsetting to think you need to live your life very differently. But you do what you can to be careful.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 8, 2004 3:24 AM

Comments [rss]

thinkpiece

I hadn't seen this story, but have had no luck getting to Fresh Direct today to order my usual -- they seem crashed? Anyone know anything?

I've found the delivery guys to be very good, but this takes care letting my 14 year old daughter receive groceries. And from now on, I'll make sure they leave it outside my door, not carry it in.

Liana

of course harrassment and other bad things that men do to women are the fault of the perpetrator & not the victim. But to not recognize that wearing certain types of clothing or wearing a lot of makeup doesn't make a difference is naive. There will always be pigs in the world, those who will attempt to victimize any woman regardless of how she looks, but then there are those men who are just so stupid that they think that a certain manner of dress is a personal invitation. Does recognizing this reality excuse the bad behavior? Definitely not. But not recognizing the reality doesn't change it. I am not suggesting that women should not dress as we please, I am only saying that we should be aware of how easily our attire will likely be misinterpreted.

Jen

I'm sorry if it seems patronizing, but I guess I started to think about ways I'd make myself feel safer or suggest to someone else. We've had similar debate about street harassment; I appreciate everyone's thoughts.

cat

I agree -- I love Gothamist for the NYC tips and updates, but there's something mildly patronizing (and occasionally naively offensive, as above) about these little safety tips, which have been appearing with increased frequency the past few months. They're either glaringly obvious (reminiscent of something your aunt in Dubuque might advise) or just WAY off the mark, like the baggy clothes thing. How about backing off and letting readers draw their own conclusions about how to look after themselves?

apocalypse

I definitely have to say that the baggy clothes and no make-up suggestion is surprising, even for Gothamist. Women are NEVER responsible for men's lewd behavior, period. It does NOT matter what the woman is wearing.

Lately, Gothamist has been appending little recommended saftey tips at the end of entries that seem more and more paranoid. From subway muggings to break-ins, to lewd cabbies and locking your keys inside your apartment, Gothamist always has a paranoid safety tip for us. NYC has crime (shock! suprise!).

If we readers followed every Gothamist paranoid safety tip, we would all stay indoors with the lights off, curled up in bed in the fetal position.

J.H.

"wear baggy clothing and no make up"?

Are you suggesting that women invite harrassment and abuse according to their dress? This attitude is precisely why perpetrators of harrassment and sexual abuse are rarely prosectued and convicted. People believe that victims, which include men, children, and the elderly, somehow are to blame for being attacked. Perpetrators chose to harrass and abuse, not because they are aroused by clothing or cosmetics, but because they want to terrify and control the victim. I've noticed this attitude in other postings about rape and victims of crime in general, on your site. I find it disturbing and irresponsible. Yes, there are safety measures people should take, especially in a big city, but shifting blame from the perpetrator isn't a good idea.

http://nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/db/protect.html

The above link lists information from the NYPD on how to protect yourself and also a short list of myths and facts surrounding sexual assault.

Smith

I'm a woman and I got a really spooky vibe from my Fresh Direct delivery WOMAN just last night. I thought about contacting the company but I chickened out.

jen h.

Sure, caller ID is a good idea.

As for "wear baggy clothing and no make-up," how about "try not having a vagina"?

I mean, this creep called an 8-months pregnant woman. In general, harassers don't care what a woman looks like, just that she's a woman, and thus fair game.