The infamous spitting woman of the Upper East Side is in police custody, law enforcement sources say.
The woman who's become notorious for spitting and screaming at passersby on the streets over the past couple of years was taken into custody along with her son Thursday, sources tell News 4.
The arrests stem from an incident on March 18, in which the son, 41-year-old Gabriel Uno, allegedly slammed a table to the ground and yelled, "Get the [expletive] out of here" to frighten someone, sources say.
It happened on the Upper East Side, though it's not yet clear if it happened on the street.
Uno was arrested on charges of menacing, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon. His mother is not yet facing charges but is in custody.
Both mother and son are homeless and considered mentally ill, sources say. Uno has been arrested eight times in the past, including for assault.
Neighbors on the Upper East Side say they've been terrorized by the woman for years, and they launched a petition urging police to take action, but NYPD's 19th Precinct Captain Bill Gallagher said it's not that easy.
"If it's a crime, we'll enforce the law -- but an individual who just needs help, we'll get them the help they need without arresting them," he said.
Even if police take the woman off the streets, the Department of Homeless Services says it can't necessarily hold her.
The Department of Homeless Services said in a statement, "It can take anywhere from one dozen to more than 200 contacts to bring homeless New Yorkers indoors."
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