Deputy Mayor Foils Mugging, Tabloids Fire Up Photoshop

Photoshop images of Skyler from the Daily News (left) and Post

Deputy Mayor Ed Skyler is being called a hero for breaking up a mugging in midtown last night. The Daily News reports that Skyler "tackled a perp who stole a woman's cell phone on a midtown street." He "wrestled with the teenaged thief on 48th St. and knocked the phone out of his hands."

According to the Post, Skyler, who is 6'4", was on his way to dinner when he saw the crime in progress and chased four teens who were running away from the victim. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said, "[Skyler] cuts him off at a right angle. The combination of him reaching for the individual and the individual slipping on ice ..." enabled the deputy mayor to tackle the perp. Browne added, "This was not a fight. (Skyler) said there were no punches thrown."

However, the perp was able to get away, thanks to his friends. The News says Skyler "chased them for a moment, then returned to comfort the woman until uniformed cops got to the scene." Skyler, who is Deputy Mayor of Operations, remarked on his "pit bull" reputation in 2004 (when he was the Mayor's press secretary), "When I have to be, I am. You need to defend your boss aggressively. Press work can be quite aggressive."

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By Jen Chung in News on March 4, 2009 4:52 PM

Comments [rss]

Gwinny

Ed tried to help me get an "in" regarding a position at the Dept. of Cultural Affairs about 8 years ago even though I barely knew him (he was only the friend of a friend). He's a good guy.

Steven

Any pda or cell phone is worthless without the plan to go along with it. Don't these kids know you can get a free blackberry from Verizon with a 2 year contract? Maybe they wanted the blackberry to sell on the black market for drug money.

ides_of_march

Just making up for the time he couldn't save his Uncle Ben.

jibbly

Me three and I second "Foils"

newsyspice

Me too. How about: Foils Mugging?

djwerdna

When I first read the headline, I thought it meant that he had given up mugging.

jaycjay

No, he's still part of the Bloomberg administration.

JacqueMehoff

he's a bully like his boss.

only difference is he's mugging the poor and working of NYC.

suepart

this deputy mayor better watch out because that perp is gonna sue him good for violating his rights to be a criminal. possibly in the two million dollar range is a good number.