A fellow named Jack Kester who lives in an Upper West Side single room occupancy (SRO) building went on a tree-chopping rampage last Thursday, cutting down four trees on his West 94th Street block with a saw while yelling “I’m king of the world” and riding around on a Razor scooter, according to the New York Post.
He also waved the saw at onlookers and called a doorman who tried to stop him a “punk-ass bitch.”
“I was just heartbroken,” said block resident Sheila Zane about the trees, which the city had to cut all the way down after Kester hacked them up. “Every day, every morning, afternoon and evening, I appreciate those trees.”
Even the other guys who live in the Rustin House SRO, which the Post miscategorizes as a homeless shelter, are afraid of Kester, according to the Post. Reasonably so, considering Kester was in full-on madman mode. I mean, if you were the king of the world, would you be riding a scooter? It doesn’t compute.
Kester was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, menacing and unlawful possession of marijuana. He was released on his own recognizance last Friday and is due back in court September 22. In the meantime, lock up your foliage. RIP, trees of West 94th Street.
(Photo: Google Maps)
