UWS Amsterdam Avenue Scaffold Attackers Arrested, Police Say

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Two people are facing charges for a violent Upper West Side mugging that took place underneath a construction site scaffold, police said.

Jose Ortiz, 22, and Trinity Velez, 18, were arrested and hit with robbery charges for an Oct. 17 attack that left a 57-year-old woman with broken bones in her face, police said. The two Bronx residents are accused of approaching a woman from behind near 200 Amsterdam Avenue, punching her in the face and then attempting to rip the woman's purse from her hands.

Two other men are still wanted for being present during the attack, police said. Video released by the NYPD shows that one of the men served as a lookout while the other attempted to steal the victim's bag. Police had initially believed four men to be responsible for the attack, but Velez, who is a woman, was identified as the robber who threw the punch. Ortiz served as a lookout during the robbery, police said.

The robbery victim suffered fractured bones in her face, police said.

Video of the attack was released by NYPD officials, the footage contains depictions of violence:

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