A brave bouncer at a West Village lesbian bar heroically sprung into action early this morning when he saw a homeless thug trying to steal a young woman’s purse and iPhone, cops said.
Vinny Barbieri was helping close down the bar, Henrietta Hudson, around 4:15 a.m. when he heard the 24-year-old passerby screaming for help.
“We went to see and saw a gentleman running across the street, dragging a young lady by the strap of her purse,” Barbieri, 38, told The Post.
The Bronx resident bolted towards the commotion as others inside the Hudson Street gin joint called 911.
“I tackled him down. He was a pretty big guy. He was trying to squirm and move away. I had my knee in the middle of his back,” Barbieri said. “I told him, ‘Relax, it’s over. The police were already called.’”
Cops quickly arrived and took away Michael Williams, 50.
The suspect — who has 50 arrests dating back to 1988 — had a crack pipe on him when he was busted, sources said.
He was charged with robbery and criminal possession of a control substance.
Barbieri said the victim “was a little banged up,” but mostly okay.
“She was a brave girl. I’m sure the adrenaline was going. She was a feisty girl — she wanted to lay into the guy herself!” he recalled.
Barbieri said he was thinking of his two young daughters — ages 3 and 6 — when he went to the victim’s aid.
“If it was a similar situation, I hope somebody would help them.”