38-year-old man allegedly threatened victim in Staten Island restaurant and committed several crimes weeks later

STATEN ISLAND, NY — A 38-year-old Port Richmond man is accused of committing a series of crimes over the course of several weeks, including threatening a victim in a restaurant with a box cutter.

The charges against Harold Sanders, of the 1500 block of Castleton Avenue, range from criminal contempt to grand larceny to illegal possession of a firearm, court documents show. This latest series of offenses dates back to July 21, authorities said.

The scene at the San Jeronimo restaurant

It was on the evening of July 21, around 8:20 p.m., when, according to court documents, Sanders threatened a person at the San Jeronimo Restaurant at 461 Port Richmond Ave. in Port Richmond.

The Port Richmond restaurant is known for its excellent food from Mexico's Puebla region, including soups, seafood and meat dishes, and has already been praised by The New Yorker.

In the restaurant's premises, Sanders held a carpet knife in his hand, aimed it at a victim and essentially said: “Don't mess with me,” the indictment states.

As a result of these alleged actions, Sanders is charged with third- and fourth-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, second- and third-degree menacing, and second-degree harassment.

An alleged violation of a protection order

Ten days later, on July 31, court documents allege that Sanders went near the San Jeronimo restaurant, violating a protective order issued by Judge John McPadden the day after the July 21 incident.

The order, which is valid until July 21, 2025, requires Sanders to stay away from an unidentified person and that person's residence, school and business, according to court documents. In addition, the order states that Sanders must refrain from contacting the unnamed person.

On July 31, at around 4:30 p.m., Sanders violated that order when, according to authorities, he looked at the person and said something like, “Fuck you.”

This alleged violation led authorities to charge Sanders with second-degree criminal contempt.

Unlawful possession

A few weeks later, on August 17 at around 10 p.m., a person at 220 Port Richmond Ave., Keshi Deli received a transaction notification for $18.75 on their debit card.

A few hours later, around 12:20 a.m. on Aug. 18, the debit card owner told authorities that he approached Sanders, who was outside the deli, knowingly in possession of the debit card, court documents state.

Sanders is said to have told the rightful owner of the debit card, “I found it, I’m sorry,” and given him the card.

Sanders himself reportedly told police that he knowingly and unlawfully made the transaction with the card, essentially telling authorities, “I'm sorry. I found the card. I gave it back to her. I used it in the store,” according to court documents.

About a half hour later, at around 12:53 a.m. on August 18, authorities allegedly found Sanders in possession of cocaine near Post and Decker Avenue in Port Richmond.

According to court documents, police found a glass pipe in Sanders' left pants pocket with black tar residue that was identified as cocaine.

These alleged actions led officers to charge Sanders with fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen goods, petit larceny, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Sanders' lawyers were unable to comment by press time.

Sanders is due to appear in criminal court in St. George on September 3.