NEW ROCHELLE, NY (January 1, 2023) — A New Rochelle man is facing multiple felony counts after police responded to an early morning report of a domestic violence incident in the North End of New Rochelle on December 29th.
According to court documents presented Friday in open court, Nathaniel Ayewah went on a violent knife-wielding spree at his home on Roberts Drive on Thursday morning, threatening to kill everyone in his family and 3 police officers in the home by spraying an incendiary substance on an open flame on a stove top, saying he wanted to blow up the house; he said he wanted to be killed by the police; he threw a knife that went over the head of two officers and struck the leg of another officer. A taser was deployed and Ayewah taken into custody. He was charged with 7 felonies including Assault, Menacing a Police Officer and Arson plus 2 misdemeanor criminal mischief charges for damaging a widescreen television and a door.
Later that night, while in custody at New Rochelle Police Department headquarters, Ayewah was charged with criminal tampering after he urinated in his jail cell.
Arrest & Charges:
Nathaniel Ayewah, 20, of New Rochelle, NY
Felony Complaint
- 1 x Attempted Assault—1st, a class B felony.
- 3 x Menacing A Police Officer Or Peace Officer, a class D felony
- 1 x Attempted Arson—2nd, a class B felony
- 2 x Criminal Mischief (damage another person’s property—amount > $250), a class E non-violent felony
- 1 x Assault—3rd, a class A misdemeanor
Misdemeanor Instrument
- 1 x Criminal Tampering—3rd, a class B misdemeanor
Arraignment:
Ayewah was arraigned late Friday at New Rochelle City Court before Judge Eileen Songer McCarthy. The judge appeared virtually because, she said, she had tested positive for COVID-19. Ayewah’s parents attended the arraignment.
Ayewah offered no plea on the charges in the Felony Complaint. He pleaded not guilty on the Criminal Tampering charge in the Misdemeanor Instrument.
Mental Health Alternatives to Incarceration or MHATI provides community services to people with serious mental illnesses by using both intensive and supportive case management. People with serious mental health and those with co-occurring disorders who have been arrested on a misdemeanor or non-violent felony charge may be sentenced to participate in treatment and services under the supervision of the MHATI program.
The ADA requested an Emergency Admission for Immediate Observation, Care, and Treatment; Powers of Courts under § 9.43 of the New York Mental Hygiene Law.
Judge Songer McCarthy set bail at $1,000 cash, $5,000 bond or $10,000 partially secured bond at 10% on the Felony Complaint and $1 bail on the Misdemeanor Instrument and made a MHATI referral for a mental health evaluation.
Ayewah is big. He appeared to be well over 6 feet tall and weighing well over 250 pounds.
Felony Complaint Deposition—Father:
The father told police that around 6:45 am, he was making coffee in the kitchen when he heard Ayewah slam a door.
“I told him to stop misbehaving or he will not have a good birthday.” (Ayewah will turn 21 on January 10)
Ayewah then attacked his brother in the living room, hitting him. The father said he intervened, attempting to stop Ayewah from hitting his brother. Ayewah picked up a kitchen knife and repeatedly punched his father while holding the knife. In fear for his life, the father said he went outside and called police.
Three New Rochelle Police officers were dispatched to the location, including one female officer, according to court records.
Felony Complaint Deposition—Brother:
The brother told police he woke up at 7 am and saw Ayewah in the kitchen with the gas stove on.
“He was spraying aerosol spray on the burners, yelling, ‘I’m going to burn this house down and kill everyone in it’.
When the police entered the house, Ayewah said he was going to blow the house up and wanted to be killed by the police.
An officer directed Ayewah to step away from the stove. Ayewah complied but then picked up a kitchen knife from a drawer and threatened to stab the officers.
Ayewah stated he had a strong dislike for female officers and that no female officer could come into the house.
As soon as the female officer walked in the door, Ayewah threw a knife at the officer, almost hitting her in the head.
A police officer deployed a taser on Ayewah and police officers took him into custody.
The Felony Complaint, written by an NRPD Detective, alleges that Ayewah threw a half scissor blade at one officer’s head (the female officer targeted by Ayewah). The blade passed over her head and the head of the Detective before hitting the third officer on the leg.
Furthermore, that Ayewah attempted to start a fire with other people in the house — three members of the defendant’s family and three police officers — by turning on the gas stove of his home kitchen and spraying an incendiary substance on the open flame, saying, “I’m going to kill everyone in this house and the cops!”
Furthermore, he damaged a Samsung TV and a door belonging to his father. Specifically, the defendant knocked a Samsung TV to the floor, rendering it inoperable. The cost of damage to the TV is $1,000.00. The defendant also used a kitchen knife to stab a bedroom door, creating holes in the wood. The cost of damage to the door is $300.00.
Furthermore, Ayewah punched his father with a closed fist on the arm, while the victim attempted to move the defendant away from his other son so that the father experienced substantial pain and suffering.
The Misdemeanor Instrument Complaint, written by a New York State Police Officer, alleges that Ayewah, after being arrested and placed into a holding cell at New Rochelle Police Department Headquarters, took out his penis and urinated over the interior of the cell all with the intent of causing substantial inconvenience to members of the NRPD.
Ayewah was given a return date in New Rochelle City Court of Friday January 20, 2023.
