Dozens of city scofflaws — ranging from a couple that enjoyed a bottle of wine in the park to a man who blasted Jay-Z too loud in his car — were given salvation yesterday in a Brooklyn church, where many of their cases were tossed.
“People can come here to resurrect themselves,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, who created the Safe Surrender program so small-time offenders could resolve their cases. “I was shocked to learn that there are a couple of hundred thousand people in Brooklyn with warrants for their arrest.”
It was the sixth Safe Surrender since the program launched a year ago.
About 2,000 cases had been dismissed before yesterday. Many of them were minor infractions like pouring from a 40-ounce beer in public, littering or blaring music too loud.
“I’m going to dismiss your summons today. I’m going to ask you not to engage in this type of action again,” Judge Jacquline Williams said in three separate open-container cases.
“I got a ticket for holding a 40 in front of my house,” said Victor Merced, 21, of Bushwick, who had his charge tossed. “I was nervous at first, but inside they were doing karaoke and everyone was singing, so it put me at ease. It wouldn’t be worth paying 50 bucks for a three-dollar 40.”
The atmosphere was more like a party than a courtroom, said Zo Vasquez, who was busted for drinking wine in the park.
“I wasn’t there long at all and the church provided entertainment,” said Vasquez. “A woman was singing and danced with my boyfriend and then there was African dancers.
“The public defender was really nice, and then I saw the judge for not even 10 seconds and it was dismissed.”
Shontay Holland, 20, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, was arrested for cursing out a cop on the subway, but the judge tossed the fine. “The judge said this was my second chance. She dismissed the fine. I still have to go to my court date next week, but here they provided me with a lawyer to help me. I’m grateful they helped clear my fine.”
Name: Zo Vasquez, 28
Violation: Open container
Potential fine: $25
Vasquez was in Central Park with her boyfriend. “We were sitting by the fountain, ducks were swimming by. It was romantic. When he brought out wine, I was like, ‘Oh! Look at you.’” The judge tossed the case. “I’m free! It was a little nerve-wracking with it hanging overmy head.”
Name: John H. Thomas, 49
Violation: Open container
Potential fine: $25
“I’m a good Samaritan. Somebody asked me for 50 cents to buy some beer. I said I don’t have 50 cents, but I told them I had a 40-ounce bottle of Budweiser in my car.
“I was pouring some of it into a cup, and the cops walked up. They caught me standing there with a cup of beer in one hand and the 40 in the other.”
The judge tossed the case. “I’ll be telling all my friends to come here.
Name: Thomas Henry, 51
Violation: Noise pollution
Potential fine: Around $250
“I was listening to Jay-Z (“99 Problems”), and I pulled up to a light and three cops got out and surrounded my car. My windows weren’t even down. They told me to pull over and gave me a summons because my music was too loud.”
The judge tossed the case. “It was real cool. This was quick. My lawyer was the best. Whenever I see cops I instantly turn my radio down.”
Additional reporting by Dan MacLeod