NYC Cops Arrest Man in Smoking Ban Death (of Nightclub Bouncer Who Enforced Smoking Ban)

ap ^ | 4/18/2003 | ap

[TLBSHOW]

NYC Cops Arrest Man in Smoking Ban Death

NEW YORK April 18 — Police arrested a new suspect in the death of a nightclub bouncer who was stabbed while trying to enforce the city's smoking ban.

Isaias Umali, 31, is accused of stabbing Dana Blake in the groin Sunday as the bouncer struggled with several of Umali's friends in a Lower East Side club, Chief of Detectives George Brown said.

Investigators initially arrested three siblings who were at a birthday party with Umali and other friends, but prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to charge them.

Umali was arraigned on second-degree murder charges and was ordered held without bail.

The judge ordered a suicide watch for Umali, who had bandages on his throat and both wrists. Brown said Umali slashed his wrists and throat Monday after learning about Blake's death.

Defense lawyer David Kruss said he was confident his client would be exonerated and added that Umali has no criminal record.

Police believe Umali stabbed Blake with a knife during the struggle in the club, but there are no eyewitnesses to the stabbing and no weapon has been recovered, Brown said. Umali's arrest came after a tipster told police that Umali had told him about the stabbing.

[Illbay]

These smokers are such sweethearts, aren't they?

Amazing what severe addiction to a mood-altering substance'll do to you.

FWIW, I have experienced the frightening anger that results when you tell a smoker that he doesn't have the right to pollute the air you breathe.

They are scary people, indeed.

[Madame Dufarge]

They are scary people, indeed.

Good.

[ChiMark]

Micromanaging people's behavior is absurd. So long private rights. Don't cops have better things to do like fight crime? Someone in Ny would've arrested Gen. Tommy Franks for lighting up that stogie.

[Illbay]

You're right; it is good.

Because when people are frightened of you, they'll rise up and they'll kick your ***.

Good.

[Jalapeno]

I didn't know Tommy Franks smoked.

[callthemlikeyouseethem]

No offense, but I am a smoker and have never tried to light up in a "no smoking" zone, nor have I ever killed anyone because I was unable to smoke because of a restriction. JMVHO, your "Amazing what severe addiction to a mood-altering substance'll do to you." is a little over the top. Again, JMVHO...

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

Don't feed the trolls.

[Newbomb Turk]

Isaias Umali

Country of origin ? Legal resident of the USA ?

I don't smoke but I really don't care if other people care to.
If the stuff is really so bad lets stop tobacco farm subsidies, ban tobacco and quit taxing it.

Anyone with half a brain knows the Federal and State Government profits more from a pack of smokes than the farmer or R J Reynolds.

Alcohol kills far more innocent people in America. Than goodness I am only addicted to caffine.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Thank goodness I am only addicted to caffine.

The tell you how to live nazis will also come after you. You're not high enough on their list yet.

[Newbomb Turk]

I find it interesting that drugs I must have a doctors order for in this country I can buy at any local chemist ( pharmacy) in Europe just by asking and paying the cost.

[Drammach]

Not so much smokers as something else.

The young "gentlemen" are the sons (grandsons?) of the former head of the chinese mafia.
They are gangsters, descendants of gangsters.

This incident has nothing to do with smoking, but with criminals and criminal behaviour.

[tdscpa]

Be afraid. Be very afraid. HaHa. Even low-level nazis risk their own lives when they they just follow the orders of the Gestapo.

[Conservative til I die]

I can't believe you're serious. I know you're a WOD'er but I didn't think that you'd become a Warrior on Smokers too. I guess all you need is a government decree.

BTW, I think these people fought and killed the bouncer because they're bad people, not because they're smokers.

[Conservative til I die]

As a NY'er who hits the bars, I obviously have firsthand (or is it secondhand, ha ha ha) experience with this new ban. Obviously it's stupid, especially in a bar of all places. However, secretly in the back of my mind I don't mind it only because I'm an ex-smoker myself who does enjoy lighting up though when I go to the bars. Of course, right now I'm finishing up my fight with cancer, and know that in all honesty I should never ever light up again, even though I don't have a smoking-related cancer. However, I do realize that ultimately it lies with me to not smoke, not the city of New York.

[rogue yam]

I agree with you. These guys stabbed the bouncer because they were knife-toting scum. Smoking and the ban thereon had absolutely nothing to do with it.

[Fraulein]

These smoking threads look more and more like something that should be on the WOD ping list.

[Fraulein]

Ping!

[Great Dane]

FWIW, I have experienced the frightening anger that results when you tell a smoker that he doesn't have the right to pollute the air you breathe.

If I met a rude person such as yourself, I would be rude right back, thank god there isn't a chance in hell that we will ever meet...... I have enough troubles as it is, they are however minor compared to the thought of running into you.

[qam1]

These smokers are such sweethearts, aren't they?

Check your facts (Though Facts are irrelevant to anti smoking Liberal Nazis like you.) The smokers didn't stab the guy, It was their non-smoking friend who stabbed the bouncer after he tired to eject his friends.