The battle of Cobble Hill ended with no shots fired.
A New York State court clerk and peace officer says he and a tiny dog scared away three goons who threatened to shoot a woman near his Cheever Street apartment on Jan. 13. Vince DeMaria was sitting in his pad around 10 pm when he heard a voice threatening to put three bullets in a woman’s head on the sidewalk outside, he said.
“I thought it was a boyfriend threatening a girlfriend,” DeMaria said.
DeMaria rushed to the lady’s defense, brandishing just a police shield and his friend’s 20-pound bulldog, Butchie.
“She was shaking and said, ‘Help me,’ ” he said.
The good Samaritan yelled “Excuse me!” at the three puffy-coat-wearing brutes and they took off down Kane Street. DeMaria gave chase, but eventually lost them, he said.
He then dialed 911 and, while he and the sobbing woman waited, invited her into his apartment for tea. The victim’s husband eventually picked her up.
Born and raised in Cobble Hill, DeMaria says the neighborhood is usually safe, but that people must stay vigilant.
“As a community, we should maintain a sense of responsibility to each other and remain cognizant of our surroundings, even in the safest of neighborhoods,” DeMaria said.
Police did not respond to a request for comment.
