Police Nab (First Ever?) Prospect Park Ice Pick Bandit!

Fear no more, dog lover of Park Slope, your goldendoodles can run off-leash without fear in Prospect Park again. Police arrested 42-year-old Flatbush resident Donnell Barden earlier this week, on charges of aggravated animal cruelty, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. Barden’s weapon of choice? An ice pick.

The trouble started back in May when police received claims Barden stabbed a dog who was fighting with his dog in Prospect Park. For good measure, Barden then hit the dog’s owner and set out on a full-on ice pick assault, intimidating a slew of dogs with his frosty weapon. A few months and a bunch of homemade “WANTED” signs later, courtesy of a concerned/freaked out Park Slope resident who witnessed the bath-saltesque rampage, and police decided it was time to put an end to the Ice Pick Bandit. 

Turns out it this isn’t the first mug shot for Barden, who spent 7 years in the slammer for attempted murder for firing a gun “in the direction” of a cop. Just so happens this cop was on the hunt for Barden as he had “tied up his old boss, put tape over his mouth and stole his credit cards”. Looks like his affection for ice picks came later in life.

With the release of Lindsay Lohan back into the wild this week, the public seems pretty happy to have at least one more nut job off the street this week with Barden back in the slammer.  Ladies and Gentleman of the park, your _______________ (birthday parties, commitment ceremonies, Sunday Fundays, Quinceañeras) are safe to resume. 

VIA GOTHAMIST