Rapper handcuffed after stopping girl's alleged groper on bus
By
Crimesider Staff
/ CBS News
NEW YORK — A video posted to Facebook by a New York City rapper allegedly shows the aftermath of his attempt to stop a man from groping a teenage girl on a city bus.
Police initially detained and handcuffed both Morancy and the man, identified as Pablo Levano, but Morancy was released without charges.
Moise Morancy, who describes himself as an actor, director, hip-hop recording artist, poet, writer and activist, said in the Facebook post accompanying the video that he watched the man get on the bus, sit next to a 15-year-old girl and begin touching her hand and leg.
“At first he started caressing her hand and I saw how uncomfortable it made her,” Morancy said.
Morancy said the suspect “lunged” at him and the two began fighting. The video Morancy posted shows the aftermath of that fight, with Morancy holding the suspect down until police arrived.
WARNING: The following video contains explicit language:
*WARNING EXPLICIT LANGUAGE*
“He was touching a little 15 yr old girl!”
“He tried to KILL me!”
“DON’T TOUCH HER AGAIN!.”
“He lunged at me and he went in his pocket.”
So I’m on my way home from the studio finalizing my debut mixtape “Chronicles of a Ghetto Rose” & I’m sitting at the back of the bus when this drunk guy gets on, saying all types of sexual shit to this little girl sitting next to me. At first he started caressing her hand and I saw how uncomfortable it made her…so she let go and put her hands in her pocket. He then proceeded to forcibly do it again. In the process of doing so, he hit my knee and I told him “Yo, bro. Don’t touch me.” Then he started getting aggressive and saying “I can do whatever I want, you BLACK PIECE OF SHIT!” I was so upset that I kept to myself after because I didn’t want the problem to escalate. Out of nowhere, he had the audacity to start feeling on this 15 YEAR OLD girl’s leg. And no one said anything. So I yelled at him so loud that the bus stopped and everyone stared. I said “Yo, my nigga! Don’t fucking touch her again! You heard? Cuz if you do, We gon’ problems!” He replied “I’m a real nigga, so try me.” Instantaneously he reached for his pocket and lunged at me. So I had to defend myself. I quickly gave him a couple combos to the face, knees to the nose and elbows to his neck. After doing so, I told the people on the bus to record and help me restrain him but no one stepped up…until this brave brother Odeh Hammoudeh lent me a hand.
The police eventually came but started arresting me as well. I was so confused and felt criminalized. Why is this happening to me? I was told that I no matter what the circumstances were, I still assaulted him. They put me in the back of the car as I tried to explain myself. He sexually harassed this child! Shortly after this black police officer who was the Sergeant opened the door, congratulated me and ordered to release the handcuffs. To see a black man in a position of power right the wrongs, gave me a little bit of hope for the N.Y.P.D. As I always say not all cops are bad. The good ones just need to step up.
Regarding the incident, I believe that every woman and child should feel protected. I urge people to take action when things are unjust. What do you think? Was I wrong for stepping in?
Watch FULL video here: https://goo.gl/ezRD1l
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Posted by Moise Morancy on Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Levano was charged with forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment, all misdemeanors.