Vandalism Victims Urged Not to Retaliate

With the alleged Mayfair tire slasher in custody, police are urging angry residents not to take the law in their own hands.

With alleged tire slasher David Toledo currently in police custody, many Mayfair residents believe that’s the safest place he could possibly be at the moment.

“He cost people money, the city money,” said resident Oliver Pagan. “Of course people want to retaliate. If I were to see him now I would probably punch him in the mouth. But I won’t do that because I know the consequences.”

Many residents say they feel betrayed by Toledo, a self-proclaimed neighborhood activist who spoke with NBC10 several times about the tire slashings before his arrest for those same crimes Wednesday afternoon. During one interview, Toledo ironically stated “I hope the cops get them before the neighbors find out who it is because something bad is going to happen.”

Realizing the animosity that many of the vandalism victims now have towards him, police are doing everything in their power to make sure residents don’t do anything “bad” to Toledo.

“Let the justice system take care of Mr. Toledo,” said Captain Frank Bachmayer. “We don’t want any type of retaliation.”

In addition to urging residents to keep calm, police also checked on Toledo’s wife. Karen Woldsmith, who had her tires slashed eight times, claims to be a close friend of hers. She expressed her concern about her safety to NBC10.

“Right now it isn’t even about the tires,” said Woldsmith. “She is scared to death. She’s worried about her life, about someone coming in. My heart is there with her.”

Police plan to hold a community meeting Thursday night in Mayfair. It will take place at the Police Athletic League Center on the 4400 block of Aldine at 7:30 p.m.
 

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