Cops Identify Knifeman Terrorizing Upper East Side: NYPD

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A man who spent a morning terrorizing people on the Upper East Side this week has been identified as police continue efforts to track him down, an NYPD spokesperson said.

Police say 27-year-old Gary Smith threatened two people with a knife and randomly smacked a woman in the face Monday morning on the Upper East Side. Smith is wanted for assault, among other charges, police said.

Earlier this week, police released surveillance footage that shows Smith attack a woman at random on East 85th Street. Smith calmly walks away from the assault scene as the shocked woman moves away from him, according to the video.

He's wanted in connection with "multiple" threats including one on East 87th Street and Third Avenue in which he pulled a knife on a couple pushing a stroller. Smith is also accused of chasing a man around a parked car on Park Avenue and East 82nd Street, police said. The man was talking to a driver sitting in the car when Smith walked up to them, shouted "I know you are talking about me," and then pulled a knife.

Smith's alleged crimes took place on the morning of Monday, Dec. 16 between 10:45 and 11:15 a.m., police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS (8477).