An uncle of Jordan Neely — the homeless man choked to death on the subway this month — was arrested near the Port Authority Bus Terminal for allegedly stealing purses from restaurants, police sources said Tuesday.
Christopher Neely, 44, had acted as something of a representative for the grieving family in the aftermath of his 30-year-old nephew’s May 1 death, frequently speaking out about the lightning-rod case.
But Neely was also allegedly wanted for a pattern of grand larceny, including the handbag thefts, according to the sources.
A member of the NYPD’s pickpocket team spotted Neely, of Hamilton Heights, at about 11 p.m. Monday near the Manhattan bus station.
He allegedly took off when the officer approached him — and fought back when cops caught up to him after a brief chase, the sources said.
Eventually, authorities cuffed him and charged him with criminal possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, bail jumping and unlawful possession of a weapon.
It was not clear when he would be arraigned.
Jordan Neely’s uncle Christopher Neely was arrested near the Port Authority Bus Terminal for allegedly stealing purses from restaurants. Obtained by NY POST
Christopher Neely was arrested for pickpocketing after saying Daniel Penny didn’t deserve a plea deal after fatally choking his nephew. Matthew McDermott
Penny’s attorneys have claimed their client was only trying to protect himself and other train passengers.
Neely has been outspoken in his defense of his nephew, who died when former Marine Daniel Penny wrapped him in a chokehold during an outburst on an F train in Manhattan.
The city medical examiner ruled Jordan’s death a homicide. Penny, 24, has been charged with manslaughter, and is out on $100,000 bail.
In an exclusive interview Sunday, Neely told The Post he didn’t think Penny deserved a plea deal after the ex-Marine suggested he’d act the same way if he was put in a similar situation again.
Daniel Penny has been charged with manslaughter for allegedly killing Jordan Neely. Juan Vazquez
Neely’s uncle, Christopher, has said Penny should be charged with murder. Juan Vazquez
Christopher Neely suggested Penny may act in a similar way again if he isn’t brought to trial. Matthew McDermott“I want this to go to trial,” Christopher said in response to Penny’s statements to The Post .
“He has too much confidence in himself and has to be taught what he did was wrong.”
What we know about NYC subway choking victim Jordan Neely
Who was Neely?
Jordan Neely, 30, a homeless man, was strangled aboard a northbound F train just before 2:30 p.m. May 1, according to police.
He reportedly started acting erratically on the train and harassing other passengers before being restrained and ultimately choked by a straphanger, identified as Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old former Marine from Queens.
Penny, who was seen on video applying the chokehold, was taken into custody and later released. He was eventually charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Why is there fallout over Neely’s death?
The city medical examiner ruled Neely’s death a homicide, noting he died due to “compression of neck (chokehold).”
Neely’s aunt told The Post that he became a “complete mess” following the brutal murder of his mother in 2007. She noted he was schizophrenic and suffered from PTSD and depression.
“The whole system just failed him. He fell through the cracks of the system,” Carolyn Neely said.
Who is Penny?
Marine veteran Daniel Penny served as an infantry squad leader and an instructor in water survival while in the Marines Corps from 2017 to 2021, according to his online resume. Penny graduated from high school in West Islip, NY.
He surrendered to authorities 11 days after he placed Neely in a fatal chokehold on an F train.
Neely tore into Mayor Eric Adams after Jordan’s death, saying Hizzoner hadn’t tried to contact the family and wasn’t welcome at his nephew’s funeral.
Penny remains out on bail. Paul Martinka
Christopher Neely told The Post that Penny “has to be taught what he did was wrong.” Matthew McDermott“I don’t have anything to say to Mayor Adams — I don’t know any mayor who parties and bull—ts like Adams,” he told The Post. “Nobody black that’s in the neighborhood really believes in him.”
He has also ripped the city for letting Jordan walk out of court-mandated mental health treatment before his death.
The caught-on-video confrontation between Penny and Jordan Neely — a former street performer with a lengthy arrest record and long history of mental illness — began after Jordan allegedly began yelling at other subway passengers on an F train in Lower Manhattan.
Jordan Neely had a history of mental illness. AP
Christopher Neely has also said authorities should charge two other men who helped Penny hold his nephew down. AP
Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Dr. Johnnie Green seated next to Neely’s greataunt Mildred Mahazu at the funeral at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church on May 19, 2023. AP Photo/Bebeto MatthewsPenny’s attorneys have said he was trying to protect himself and other straphangers from a threatening vagrant.
But Jordan’s family — including Christopher — have said said Penny should be tried for murder.
Christopher Neely has also said authorities should charge two other men who helped Penny hold his nephew down.
“They have to be held accountable,” Christopher has said. “The Penny, the nickel and the dime should all be charged.”
Additional reporting by Joe Marino and Larry Celona
