The man responsible for pulling off eight robberies in East Harlem over the last 10 days has been identified as an ex-con with a lengthy rap sheet, police said.
Jason Commisso, 34, was picked out in a photo array by victims and was also captured on surveillance video after one of the robberies.
Commisso struck most recently on Saturday morning when he attacked a 57-year-old man inside of an elevator on East 97th Street, police said. He fled with the man’s cell phone, wallet and cash, police said.
That victim treated at Metropolitan Hospital for a broken nose, cops said.
In all eight robberies Commisso has targeted Asian men and women inside of elevators, police said.
“We have the hate crimes unit involved,” Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said during a press conference on Friday. “Obviously because the fact that all of the victims are Asian, raises concerns in that area. But we’re not certainly in a position to categorize it as a hate crime at this time.”
Commisso has been arrested more than 30 times, cops said. His arrests include charges for robbery, arson, assault and drugs, cops said.
He is 6-foot-1, weighs 200 pounds and has his hair braided in corn rows, cops said. His last known address was in Queens.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).