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A Manhattan Federal Court judge did double duty as the fashion police yesterday, when he ordered a groovy balloon artist who's suing police to go change out of his tie-dyed T-shirt, tie-dyed patchwork overalls, and far-out multicolored sneakers. Russian immigrant Alexander "Sasha" Alhovsky, 40, was in the court room during jury selection for the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages over claims that the NYPD used excessive force when he was taken into custody in June 2006, on suspicion of planting a fake bomb inside an UES Starbucks three days earlier.
But the device was actually a battery-powered balloon pump inside a black fanny pack; Alhovsky used the thing to make balloon animals for kids. Yesterday, Alhovsky claimed he accidentally left his rainbow-striped pump in the Starbucks because he was "spaced out" after a long day working with balloons in the park. But a lawyer for the city argues that terrorist bombers often conduct a "test run" by planting a fake device to see how officials react. The NYPD Bomb Squad had responded to the scene, X-rayed it on the sidewalk and disconnected the power before finally concluding it was harmless.
As Alhovsky arrived at Central Park on his bike three days later, bike-patrol cops rolled up to him; he claims one ran at him with his gun drawn, screaming, "Don't move! I'll blow your fucking head off!" Alhovsky says he was then knocked off his bike and kicked in the kidneys while "somebody stepped on my face." He was allegedly dragged by his hair and slammed into a restaurant window, at which point "one of his overall straps slipped off, sending his pants and stretched-out underwear to his knees in front of a group of neighborhood children," the Post reports. He was released hours later, but Alhovsky says he still suffers from "depression and paranoia," and now he can't even wear his happy clothes in court.
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Too...many...jokes...
So this is a funny ha ha article about a guy who got busted and beat up by some over-eager, under-educated cops? WTF? Hey John Del Signore, why don't you grow an ironic moustache and fall down an elevator shaft. And then we can make jokes about that, too.
Slacker 1: Are you being sarcastic, dude?
Slacker 2: I don't even know anymore.
Slackers? Wrong decade; they're hipsters now.
How much public resource was wasted on Thoth and this Mr. Rainbow Pants guy? Guess the cops are too wimpy to show this kind of force with real criminals.
Judge needs to mellow out a little. This dude can wear whatever the fuck he wants. Fucking fashion nazi.
I don't know about that... It's pretty much impossible for a guy wearing tie-dye to get laid in NYC... well, maybe when the String Cheese Incident is in town... Anyway, judge is doing this guy a favor - some tail would help this guy with his "depression and paranoia."
That judge was doing US ALL a favor. Obama needs to nominate more fashion activist judges!
This is why your parents teach you to always wear clean underwear.
too easy.
I would share a bag of Doritos with him.
I'm just envisioning him pulling out a never ending rainbow handkerchief to dot his tears away recounting this terrible tragedy
WOW.
He's probably the most famous tie dye clown balloon guy at the moment.
He should really capitalize on it. Talk shows, postcards, etc.... and yes.... suing the city for millions. Fking 'homeland' security.
so a judge can act like a fascist & ignore the thug behavior of new york's swinest because a hippie is wearing tie-dye. fantastic.
i like the first comment from the 2006 gothamist link.
"You are NOT supposed to leave anything suspicious behind in a public area now a days."
the whole idea of forgetting something is you FORGOT,
youre not responsible for the NYPD overreacting,
i cant forget this because its suspicious, then carryingit around is suspicious, then owning it is suspicious, then going home with it is suspicious, then the stasi break down the door because your informant neighbors call the gestapo, then your still called an enemy of the state because you didnt really forget and in some kafka-esque show trial the lawyer for the city argues that your really part of a test run for a terror attack.
homeland stupidity comedy!
someone is going to print this out then pass it to KSM in his cell and he'll proclaim our work is done, we have caused to fear tie dye clowns making ballon animals. your way of life has been destroyed and we won..hahha
I find it anazing that this filthy balloon artist could have escaped dragnet after dragnet after dragnet. Finally he had to resort to tie-dye clothing to get the cops' attention. Does anyone think of the children?
cops are egomaniac morons with something to proof.
idiots.
Also, why was he being arrested three days AFTER the "bomb" was confirmed not to be a bomb?
I guess the fking homeland security was making a 'trial run' of re-enacting germany in 1938.
Everybody wear tye dye tomorrow, and carry around battery powered pumps!! Show your support! Anarchy. LOL.
I'm a balloon guy, I walk around wearing plaids and stripes, with an electric pump in a black box, have been for 30 years.
I work in arenas, malls, and lots of places. When I go through security checkpoints I open everything and let them know what is what. They tag my box and no one else bothers me.
If I went to court, I would wear a suit and tie out of respect. Ever heard of "Dress for Success"? I have a couple of nice suits. You can win over a jury and a judge and possible win your case. And he needs to get a haircut. That style went out years ago.
If he stayed off of drugs, he might not be so spaced out and forget his props that are his livelihood.
My best of luck to him though, if the cops spent more time getting the real criminals other than pacifist clown guys, the country would be in a lot better shape.
I read a comment in another thread, and I was thinking the same thing, you have to be pretty dumb not to be able to tell a balloon pump from a bomb.
And then beat him up days after they figured out it was a balloon pump? This screams lawsuit. I hope he wins enough and can retire.
I just read he lost his case. I guess now it is okay for the police to beat up all the tie dye wearing hippies like they did in the 70's.