Man Loses Belt Buckle, Insurance Co. Wants City to Pay

The city is being asked to pay up for some bling it allegedly took while arresting a man for punching his housekeeper. In a suit filed by his insurance company, police allegedly took George Bardwil's $187,000 diamond- and emerald- encrusted gold belt buckle while arresting him in May 2009, and the insurance company is suing to get the money back from the city. Seen any cops with inordinately nice belt buckles lately?

Bardwill was arrested after punching his housekeeper so hard she wound up in intensive care, and pleaded guilty last November to a misdemeanor assault charge. He claimed he punched her because there was money missing. The suit claims the city "breached, failed and violated its duties and obligations as (custodian) of property entrusted to its care" by not returning the bauble to Bardwil. But we can all rest well knowing that Bardwil got the money to buy himself another jewel-encrusted belt buckle, lest passersby wouldn't be aware of how much money was put into holding up his pants.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on August 14, 2010 9:30 AM

Comments [rss]

CaptainMXC

You may think it is ok that they stole this because the guy is a douche, but I keep hearing over and over again of police stopping individuals and basically stealing their money. One guy had a fireman key (yeah I know, I don't like that either) and they ended up taking all his keys and the moeny in his pocket and not returning them. Something has to be done. Militarize the police..whatever it takes...

thatsomeoneisme

So he's a mean, violent woman beater AND he has poor taste in fashion

Kelles

No way! Hey it's not like he checked in his bling at the hotel safe, He was arrested. Why did he wear his belt buckle to jail? Is everybody on autopilot to sue the city? Because we can't afford it anymore

jaycjay

"Why did he wear his belt buckle to jail?"

Yeah, he should have planned his day more carefully: "I think today I'll bash the housekeeper with an ashtray. I'll probably be arrested after that, so... what should I wear today that would be appropriate for a trip to jail?"

just saying

What kind of person smashes the skull of a petite 100lb. woman with a heavy ashtray?

Apparently a person who would buy an unbelievably tacky-looking jeweled gold belt buckle for $187,000. This guy's behavior almost screams "new money."

Petey

I think that George "breached, failed and violated its duties and obligations as" employer of maids.

He gets off on probation after assaulting his employee with an ashtray.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2009/05/27/2009-05-27_linen_mogul_held_in_assault_on_maid.html

blackwhole

Hopefully the city will get this guy a new belt buckle, one that lights up with the words "CLASS ACT"

John L

Of course no member of the NYPD should be stealing but I'm sure they'll sell it and do something more worthwhile than what this idiot does with his money. If the belt buckle pays for some cop's kid to go to college after this idiot punched his housekeeper then justice is served.

inoyourider

Finally you say something I can agree with.

just saying

Are you friggin kidding me?

nicemarmot

You think that's bad? My health insurance company is both harassing me and trying to force me to help them scam workers comp. Next they'll probably sue the city for causing my health issue so they once again can fail to pay for my treatment.

That belt buckle is so ugly I hope the cop who stole it melted it down.