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[mmazurkiewicz]

Times Square ‘Hug Guy’ punches Canadian tourist, 22, because she didn't give him a tip

A hug is about $5 — but punches are free!

A 24-year-old wacko who offers hugs at Times Square for tips clocked a 22-year-old Canadian tourist when she refused to give him any money Thursday, officials said.

Jermaine (Hug Guy) Himmelstein socked his victim following an 11 a.m. exchange outside the T-Mobile store on Broadway near W. 45th St., officials said.

The victim and a friend were walking through Times Square when Himmelstein approached, holding a sign reading “FREE HUGS.”

Himmelstein embraced the young woman and took a photo, but began throwing fists when they wouldn’t fork over any cash, cops said.

He punched his victim, identified by police sources as Sophie Violene Dauvois, in the eye and ran off down Seventh Ave.

Dauvois suffered a swollen and bloody black eye and was taken to St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital for treatment.

Himmelstein disappeared into Times Square, but was located and arrested about four hours later, charged with robbery and assault.

He was grabbed by an NYPD recruit in uniform armed with his picture, police sources said.

Dauvois, sporting a patch on her right eye, didn’t speak to reporters as she was escorted out of the Midtown South station house.

NYPD Chief of Department James O’Neill said Himmelstein “is no stranger” to the department — or assaulting strangers.

“He has multiple prior arrests and several of them are for the same type of offense,” O’Neill said.

Himmelstein has been arrested 16 times since 2012, officials said.

His most recent arrest was last month, when he was charged with criminal mischief when he damaged MTA property on April 17. He spent the night in jail and was sentenced to time served after pleading guilty.

The hug thug’s arrest comes as city council members are pushing through legislation to put Times Square characters seeking tips — costumed and otherwise — into special zones, as well as wear ID badges.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...hug-thug-bugs-slugs-tourist-article-1.2635192

 

[Kaladin]

Hug thug?

 

[Slayven]

What about Canadian on Canadian violence?

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

At a glance I thought the title said Kardashians.

 

[Hexa]

But it said free hugs. Who tips for something specifically specified as free?

 

[CrocMother]

Hug thug?

Daily News doesn't miss an opportunity for a play on words

 

[Robot Pants]

Maybe we should put him in jail for bit eh?
16 arrests in 4 years seems like a lot. Punching a woman in the face in public seems like a lot

 

[riotous]

Hug thug?

Him and the spoon goon will fuck you up.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

This is totally the reverse of what I was told is reality..

 

[davidwhangchoi]

lol insane...

 

[Pinko Marx]

#huglife

 

[Learn2read]

Canadian tip culture is pretty much the same as American tip culture, unless OP is suggesting story in the OP is equivalent to the 15% you give the waitress at a Cracker Barrel.

 

[zero_suit]

#huglife

LMAO

 

[Gordon Shumway]

#huglife

 

[Ashby]

Canada is like the only country that tips as regularly as the US.

 

[jett]

Himmelstein has been arrested 16 times since 2012, officials said.

so why is this nutjob still on the streets

 

[Aztechnology]

The title is just throwing me for a loop. Why is that even important lol?

 

[Corpekata]

Can't say this was the story I was expecting to read given the thread title.

 

[darthbob]

Expecting a tip when you're giving your services away is an awfully dumb business strategy.

 

[Exr]

#huglife

This pleases me

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

The title is just throwing me for a loop. Why is that even important lol?

I have no idea.

 

[MMarston]

The victim and a friend were walking through Times Square when Himmelstein approached, holding a sign reading “FREE HUGS.”

Himmelstein embraced the young woman and took a photo, but began throwing fists when they wouldn’t fork over any cash, cops said.

 

[Heartfyre]

The sign should really read as "FREE* HUGS".

 

[Madness]

So this guy hugged a girl and then punched her in the face for not tipping? Fuck him. It is New York. One of the rudest places ever, full of assholes. A friend's wife went on a trip there a few months back. She said so many guys would catcall her, try and grab her, people were rude on the subway.

Just compare the difference between Canadian big cities and American ones. We ma be indifferent at times but we're nut super rude or violent.

 

[Dual Blade]

Tip culture is going too far. I almost feel the need to tip some one if they say "Hi".

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

So this guy hugged a girl and then punched her in the face for not tipping? Fuck him. It is the United States. One of the rudest places ever, full of assholes. A friend's wife went on a trip there a few months back. She said so many guys would catcall her, try and grab her, people were rude on the subway.

Just compare the difference between Canadian big cities and American ones. We ma be indifferent at times but we're nut super rude or violent.

Changed that for you.

 

[NormalFish]

dont take anything from anyone on the streets of NY.

 

[The Silver]

is this the start of Bayley's heel turn?

 

[NYR]

This "free but not really" street stuff is becoming more common. New York should ban those asshole losers in Times Square who dress up for tips. So trashy.

 

[Reset]

But it said free hugs. Who tips for something specifically specified as free?

Same as the people who give out "free" music CDs or (dress up in costumes), if you're dumb enough to take one of them prepared to get harassed by these people for money. Just ignore everybody when you come here, and don't walk slowly

 

[arts&crafts]

Im pretty sure Canadian tipping culture is the same or more than Americans. That being said, I wouldnt tip a hugger.

 

[SuperStiltzkin]

But it said free hugs. Who tips for something specifically specified as free?

They are free, but why don't you tip, asshole?

 

[arts&crafts]

Serious question, why is Maury in the photo?

 

[malfcn]

Nothing is for free.

 

[El_Chino]

As someone who grew up in NYC

TOURISTS PLEASE AVOID TIMES SQUARE

Lots of people like him are around that area.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Times Square is such a shitty tourist trap. These guys are just as bad as the squeegee guys in the 90s.....

 

[K.Sabot]

ye old american exceptionalism

 

[Goldenroad]

He got to hug her and then he punched her??! What? Why didn't he feel a need to "tip"? Basically "male prostitute punches woman who does not realize she hugged a prostitute" should be the thread title.

 

[Messofanego]

I don't think people should take the "free hugs" thing seriously when this guy has had previous offences. Dude just wanted any reason to cause shit.

 

[Zombine]

Yo check out my free mixtape. It's blank tho and I'm gonna assault you.

Legit had to bail my dumbass brother outta this one.

 

[User 479360]

What kind of a creep gives hugs for tips? I'm not surprised this happens.

Lock him away for a little while, then ban him from Time's Square.

 

[anaron]

Canada is like the only country that tips as regularly as the US.

seriously, I'm so confused that people think we don't tip. lol

 

[User 479360]

seriously, I'm so confused that people think we don't tip. lol

Yeah

My friend tips a lot. He'll give someone five bucks for cutting his hair.

He got mad at me because I tipped a bit less than I maybe should've once because I didn't have more on me. Then covered it out of anger.

I try to tip all the time, but it's not as important here given higher wages for servers. Still, I'm usually very fair.

 

[Nealand Liquor]

seriously, I'm so confused that people think we don't tip. lol

I'm confused why Canadian is spelled Kanadian.

 

[The Faceless Master]

i love how they pimp SIXTEEN ARRESTS but only talk about one actual plea deal and one night spent in jail. wonder if any of those other 14 arrests were just the NYPD NYPDing...

 

[stump sock]

Canada is like the only country that tips as regularly as the US.

sure, but you guys don't beat the shit out of people who don't tip usually

 

[Dash_Riprock]

16 fucking times!?

Its shit like this that make me want to support Three Strikes Laws.

 

[ItIsOkBro]

Canadians tip because we're nice people

 

[Nealand Liquor]

i love how they pimp SIXTEEN ARRESTS but only talk about one actual plea deal and one night spent in jail. wonder if any of those other 14 arrests were just the NYPD NYPDing...

Sure buuuuuuut if some dude is going to clock a woman for not giving him a tip maybe he's the chump he's being made out to be.

 

[gutter_trash]

this is not about tipping culture,

this is about scam artists taking advantage of tourists.