A landlord who repeatedly complained about a tenant who allegedly owes more than $28,000 in rent and fees was arrested on charges of harassment.
Bonnie Rychlak, 67, faces charges of aggravated harassment for allegedly calling and threatening her subletter, Ted Owen, the New York Daily News reported. Rychlak, claiming that he threw loud parties that disrupted neighbors and was behind on rent, had moved to evict Owen earlier this month. But the tenant claimed he couldn’t leave the third-floor loft because the elevator in the Lafayette Street building is being repaired. Owen called the police on Rychlak on Sunday after running into her in the building. He claims she called and threatened him.
“I conspired to destroy your reputation and I’ll keep the door open for that,” she told him on the phone, according to police.
Rychlak denies that the call ever happened. She also alleges that Owen sent her text messages and emails threatening to bankrupt her.
“I feel like I’m in a Hitchcock movie. I really do,” Rychlak said. “Everything is turned upside down.” [NYDN] — Kathryn Brenzel