Gee, Officer Krupke Police Reports of the Events Surrounding “West Side Story”

Filed By Ofc. Marty Krupke & Lt. Jenson Shrank”

By: Josiah Turner November 23rd, 2014

Police Report Case Number 525600696 Date: 15 July 1956 Prepared By: Ofc. Krupke Incident Type: Physical Dispute Address of Occurrence: Saint John's Park, Varick St, New York, NY 10013

Witnesses: Alan Perez: Store Owner, Male, 43, Latino Michael Sinnclair: Unemployed, Male, 28, Caucasian Evidence: Signs of struggle and wounds on parties involved Weapons/Objects Used: Hands/Fists, Rotten Fruit

On July 15th, 1956, at approximately 15:23, several members of two rival gang under the names “The Jets” (Made up of exclusively white males) and “The Sharks” (Made up of Puerto Rican members) involved themselves in a large scale fight. Several witnesses claim that the gangs chased each other up and down the streets surrounding Saint John’s Park in the West Side of Manhattan and through the Trash Dump located near by. Alan Perez, an owner of a fruit stand in the predominately Puerto Rican part of the area claims that members of “The Jets” stole several pounds worth of fruit which was then thrown at “The Sharks” in an ambush type situation in the trash dump. A member of “The Jets” was questioned by Lt. Schrank on the scene. The boy, “Baby John” AKA John Richardson showed signs of a struggle and was bloodied. When questioned about which of “The Sharks” bloodied him, another member of “The Jets”, “Riff” AKA Eric Johnson answered saying “As a matter factuality, sir, we suspicion the job was done by a cop!”. The story was then cooberated by one “Snowboy” AKA Alan Jackson who continued on to say “Two Cops”. It was obvious that the boys were lying so Lt. Schrank and I left the scene issuing a warning to members of both of the gangs and specifically to Bernardo Sanches of the Sharks to keep their fighting out of the neighborhood.

Police Report Case Number 525600787 Date: 16 July 1956 Prepared By: Ofc. Krupke Incident Type: Disturbance Address of Occurrence: 210 Church St, New York, NY 10013

Witnesses: Michael Janson: Busboy, Male, 25, Black Eric Cummings: Student, Male, 19, Caucasian Elanore Rigby: Store Clerk, Female, 23, Caucasian Evidence: Signs of Struggle, Witness Report Weapons/Objects Used: Hands/Fists

On July 16th, 1956, at approximately 20:28 members of “The Sharks” and “The Jets” began a fight in the Gym on Church Street during a dance being held there. Witnesses claim that “Tony” Anton Michaels was caught dancing with a Puerto Rican girl by the name Maria Sanches who is the sister of “The Sharks” gang leader Bernardo Sanchez. Heated words were exchanged by both parties but I was already on the scene to stop anything from escalating further. Michael Janson, a busboy who works at a “Top’s Diner” down the street claims to have seen the entire episode, “This white boy over here, Tony I think they call him, well he laid eyes on that chick Maria and they looked just about ready to fall in love. They danced for a bit and talked, I don't know what was said, but as soon as they got close to smooching that Bernardo guy pushed him off and it looked like they was gunna fight somethin’ fierce.” said Janson. When confronted, Bernardo Sanchez and Eric Johnson (Riff) answered by claiming that they were trying to become friends so that their gangs would not fight, they then left the gym together to “Talk Business” according to one witness. Elanore Rigby, a young woman who works weekends at “Doc’s Pharmacy” down Located on Leonard Street, claims the two spoke of a “War Council” to take place later this week. “They was talking up a storm about fists or

knives or guns or somethin’ or other, I just went back inside to dance, I don't wanna get mixed up in what this boys are doing.” She said. Lt. Schrank has posted me around the area to keep up with the two gang’s violent behavior.

Police Report Case Number 525600788 Date: 17 July 1956 Prepared By: Lt. Schrank Incident Type: Disturbance Address of Occurrence: 87 Leonard St, New York, NY 10013

Witnesses: James Simmons: Unemployed, Male, 43, Caucasian Evidence: Witness Report Weapons/Objects Used: N/A

On July 17th, 1956 at Approximately 22:19, I was called to the apartment of a James Simmons who has a window facing “Doc’s Pharmacy” and called due to a disturbance in and around the pharmacy. According to James, Members of the Jets were shouting and making an overall ruckus in and around Docs, waking Simmons up. When he threatened the youth, they threatened to “Pummel him” and “Make him a real man” or something of that sort. “There was a bunch of kids just hanging around docs, shouting and yelling about bein’ antsy cuz of some war council or something or other coming up soon and no waitin on them “No Good Puerto Ricans” to show up. They were all out there, shouting and causing one hell of a ruckus, but then one kid, Riff or something started giving this big ol’ speech about ‘Being cool’ and I just lost it.” Upon my arrival on the scene I found that members of both Gangs were on the scene including Bernardo Sanchez, Pepe Sylvia, Chino Salvyastra, and Indio Cabrera of the Sharks. Members of the Jets included “Baby John” AKA John Richardson, “Riff” AKA Eric Johnson, “Snowboy” AKA Alan Jackson, “A-Rab” AKA Austin Ritche, “Diesel” AKA Chevy Hardy, Anton Michaels, and “Action” AKA Dennis Smith. Along with the Jets were two women, Velma Ericson and Graziella Smith who are dating Smith and Johnson respectively. When I arrived on the scene the gangs were “mixed” in the Pharmacy, but I knew they had only mixed so I wouldn't catch on to what had happened. I issued a

warning to the kids and they left, except for Anton Michaels and “Doc” who stayed to close up.

Police Report Case Number 525600801 Date: 18 July 1956 Prepared By: Lt. Schrank Incident Type: Homicide Address of Occurrence: 533 Canal St, New York, NY 10013

Witnesses: Jamie Smith: Store Clerk, Male 56, Caucasian Evidence: The Bodies of Bernardo Sanchez and Eric Johnson, Two Switchblades, Signs of Struggle, Witness Report Weapons/Objects Used: Switchblades, Fists

On July 18th, 1956 Officers were called to the Underpass of 533 Canal Street to respond to what witnesses called “A large fight”. When officers arrived on the scene, all suspects had fled, although witnesses claim to have still seen suspects that resemble Anton Michaels and Lucinda Jamie (Anybodys) fleeing the scene directly before we arrived. The bodies of Bernardo Sanchez and Eric Johnson were found about 12 feet apart. Both had sustained multiple stab wounds and had bled out before any help could arrive on the scene. Witness, Jamie Smith had this to say, “I was driving down here to visit my sister in law after she had her baby and I look over and see those boys just going at it, they were punching the shit out of one another! I didn't see anyone get stabbed though, that must have happened before I got there. I don't know what’s gotten into these boys these days.” It is believed as of now that the two killed one another in what escalated from “fists”. Several officers were sent to round up any others who might have been hiding on the scene but none were found.

Police Report Case Number 525600823 Date: 19 July 1956 Prepared By: Ofc. Krupke Incident Type: Fleeing Suspects Address of Occurrence: 535 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

Witnesses: Enrique Sylvia: Domestic Worker, Male, 56, Puerto Rican Alan Perez: Store Owner, Male, 43, Latino Evidence: Officer Report, Witness Report Weapons/Objects Used: N/A

On July 19th, 1956, I was patrolling the area that is claimed sovereign by the street gang “The Jets” when I stumbled upon several of the members of the gang who are also suspects in the murders of Bernardo Sanches and Eric Johnson. The members on the scene were Austin Ritche (A-Rab), Chevy Hardy (Diesel), John Richardson (Baby John), Dennis Smith (Action) and Alan Jackson (Snowboy). When told to halt and stand still the suspects ran east down Broadway and turned on to Spring Street where they were lost to me. After approximately another hour I found where they had been due to witness report. Enrique Sylvia, a domestic worker who looked out onto the street when the members of the gang found shelter in the alley overlooked by the home where he works said this, “There were about five of those boys, and they were tearing it up something fierce. One of them was wearing a police hat and pretending to be a police officer, ‘Gee, Officer Krupke’ I think they were sayin’. He stuffed a watermelon down his shirt to look fat and danced around real silly while the others begged him for mercy claiming they had all sorts of things wrong with them so they shouldn't be taken in. It was actually pretty funny.” While Alan Perez had only this to say, “First they steal fruit to throw at each other not a week ago, now they're parading with my fruit down their shirts to make fun

of the crap police we have around here! I tell you if it weren't for these stupid cops, we’d live in a much nicer neighborhood.”

Police Report Case Number 525600837 Date: 19 July 1956 Prepared By: Lt. Schrank Incident Type: Questioning Address of Occurrence: 260 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

On July 19th, 1956 at approximately 13:10 I went to the home of Maria Sanchez to question her about the events that had preceded today. Her home is above a bridal shop, so I was a bit confused on how to get there at first, but I found m way. Upon entering the house I was greeted by Anita Delarosa (The girlfriend of the deceased Bernardo Sanchez). After persistent questioning on the location of Maria Sanchez, she claimed that Maria was not feeling well and that I should leave. I did not take my leave but instead Maria came out of the bedroom to speak to me, asking Anita to go to Doc’s Pharmacy and pick something up for her. When questioned on what it was, Maria simply answered “Doc will know what it is, tell him I’m being held up here and that if I wasn’t, I would come down and get it myself.” as suspicious as I was concerning what exactly the nature of what miss Delarosa was “picking up” for Maria was, I decided to continue begin my questioning of Maria. When asked about the by she danced with at the Gym, she lied and claimed that it was with a Pablo Ramirez “A boy from [her] country”. When asked about Anton Michaels she claimed to have never met him. She claimed to have no involvement with her brother’s death or with “The Sharks’ and “The Jet”’s rivalry and I preceded to leave the house and return to the office. It was obvious that Ms.Sanchez had no knowledge of value in these incidents.

Police Report Case Number 525600803 Date: 19 July 1956 Prepared By: Ofc. Krupke Incident Type: Homicide, Disturbance Address of Occurrence: Saint John's Park, Varick St, New York, NY 10013

Witnesses: Maria Sanchez: Bridal Shop worker, Female, 17, Puerto Rican Evidence: The Body of Anton Michaels, Signs of Struggle, Witness Report Weapons/Objects Used: Colt Python Revolver

Officers were called to the scene in Saint John’s Park due to reports of a noise disturbance. Anton Michaels was heard shouting “Chino!” “Come and Get me Chino!” “Come and Get Me too Chino!” etc. all around the lower west side before finishing at the basketball courts that are placed in Saint John’s Park. A gunshot was fired and when officers arrived on the scene, members of “The Sharks” and members of “The Jets” were crowded around the body of Anton Michaels who had been shot once in the chest. He was being cradled by Maria Sanchez who had been seen threatening the members of both gangs with the gun claiming “We all killed him because of Hate! I can kill now too, because now I have hate!”. After several minutes of sobbing though, she allowed for the body to be taken off of the scene by several members of both “The Sharks” and “The Jets”. Chino Salvyastra admitted to the shooting and was taken into custody to await trial.