Manhattan College students mugged at knifepoint in Van Cortlandt Park

It was a typical Wednesday earlier last month as Manhattan College freshman Patrick Fox was going through his routine and taking a jog on the Empire State Trail in Van Cortlandt Park.

Suddenly he saw a black dirtbike speed past him, the driver dressed head to toe in black. The driver turned around and seized hold of Fox’s neck taking out a sharp object to his face, and threatening the student if he didn’t give up his phone.

“It was something sharp,” Fox said. “It was something he could have used as a weapon. So at that point, I gave the phone to him and he just stood. I stood there for a couple of seconds and he was like, keep moving. So I just kept going.”

After Fox complied and gave his phone to the mugger, he ran back toward the college campus where he found two individuals who helped him call the police.

He described the alleged attacker: “He wore all-black clothing. He’s dark-skinned and has a little bit of facial hair. Nothing too much a little scruffy. About average height average weight.”

Apparently, this wasn’t the only such assault that happened there last month. Two weeks after the initial mugging, two Manhattan College sophomore students decided to go for a walk in Van Cortlandt Park. The sophomores decided to go out on the Old Croton Aqueduct trail. While on the run an adult male came up behind them on a moped stopping in their tracks. He flashed a knife and demanded that the students give him any money and valuables that they had.

“At the moment I was just shocked and in survival mode,” one of the Manhattan College students said. “It wasn’t until later that night once everything was sorted out, that the fear sort of set in.”

In Fox’s case, the police said they could not find Fox’s location, but they did chase an individual in Yonkers who fit the mugger’s description.

Fellow cross country teammate and senior at Manhattan College, Brendan Chan mentioned that this experience changed his perception of the Riverdale neighborhood.

“I wouldn’t expect anything like this to happen,” Chan said. “I got a little enraged, just like thinking how could this happen? I know that this isn’t the safest neighborhood relatively, well compared to the rest of the city. I think this is a safer area, being in Riverdale.

“Unfortunately, this happens, it can happen to anyone. Even though it is a fairly rare case, it still happens. So everyone should be careful.”

John Fox, Patrick’s father, was shocked to hear his son’s story. John Fox said that Patrick’s mother was shaken up, but after all was said and done, the family still appreciated the Riverdale community.

“My concern was for his safety, which he was safe from, which was great. I didn’t expect it in the broad daylight like that.” John Fox said. “You’re going to have some bad eggs everywhere. You know what I mean? And it stinks. It stinks but it’s just it’s part of life.”

Chan informed the cross-country coach of what had happened and she offlined the trails of the robberies recommending that students should run elsewhere.

Peter DeCaro, retired NYPD officer and the director of Public Safety, had a message for Riverdale Community members and Manhattan College students alike.

“Manhattan College is still located in one of the safest areas in both the Bronx and within all of NYC,” DeCaro wrote in a statement. “We maintain an excellent working relationship with the NYPD 50th Precinct, which provides police service to our campus. Staying safe is something we all need to be very focused on these days, so try to make it a priority in your daily life. Always remain alert and be aware of your surroundings, whether you are on campus or traveling off campus.”

Some of the reporting and writing for this story first appeared in Manhattan College’s newspaper The Quad.