90-year-old owner of Ray’s East Village Candy Store beaten by Two Suspects

As reported by the NY Post, according to police and sources on Saturday, two men were detained in connection with the vicious assault and attempted robbery of the elderly owner of Ray’s Candy Shop in the East Village. The sadistic assault on Ray Alvarez, 90, whose injuries were so severe he now needs to eat through a straw, he told The Post, led to the arrest of Luis Peroza, 39, and Gerald Barth, 55. According to the sources, Barth and Peroza, who are both from the East Village, are thought to have gone on a rampage through the area and damaged Alvarez’ Avenue A store as part of their crimes. According to sources, Barth, who is no stranger to law enforcement, was detained on Wednesday in connection with the attempted robbery of Alvarez as well as a separate robbery. The NYPD reported that Peroza was arrested and charged with assault on Friday, hours before he was led from the 9th Precinct stationhouse on East 5th Street. The tough store owner can only eat through a straw after the attack broke bones in his face and dislocated his jaw. If there had been more police officers in the area, he railed, the beating would never have taken place.