NEW YORK — A 25-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stealing a ceremonial sword and bullhorn from St. John’s University coach Rick Pitino’s office, New York City police said Saturday.
Emmanuel Yakubov was arrested Friday, a day after police released surveillance footage showing two men walking down a hallway in the building, one carrying a stolen sword and the other holding a bullhorn.
Yakubov, who lives in Queens, where the Catholic institution is located, was charged with burglary, petit larceny, trespassing and possession of stolen property, police said. He was also kept in custody on Saturday. It was not known if he had a lawyer available to comment.
Police said the theft occurred Tuesday night when two men entered the university’s athletics department office “without authorization” and removed several items before fleeing on a moped.
The second suspect was still at large Saturday, police said.
“Saint John’s University is grateful for the quick response of the NYPD and the recovery of the stolen property,” university spokesman Brian Brown said in a statement. “The safety and security of our campus community is essential, and our collaborative relationship with law enforcement helps ensure that.”
Pitino, a Hall of Fame coach born in New York City and raised on Long Island, was hired by St. John’s last year with hopes of restoring a storied Big East program in the 1980s.
