Enough is enough.
A former CVS employee criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for his handling of a violent shoplifter’s case, expressing frustration over being charged instead of being supported as a diligent New Yorker. “I don’t know why he decided to bring the case to me, but I feel that this case should not go to trial,” said 48-year-old Scotty Enoe in an exclusive interview.
“It feels like they’re trying to clean up their mess by making me the scapegoat,” he remarked, emphasizing that as someone who works hard, standing up for oneself often leads to backlash.
Living in Brooklyn, Enoe believes that shoplifter Charles Burrito, who has a history of theft, shouldn’t be roaming freely, threatening those in the city. “It’s the prosecutor’s fault,” he added.
Originally from Grenada and residing in New York City since 1996, Enoe felt compelled to defend himself and rejected a proposed plea deal. He recounted having to craft his narrative during the trial, wanting everyone to know, “Listen, I’m doing two jobs. I had no issues with anyone until he attacked me.”
Reflecting on the experience, he mentioned that he bore no anger about his nightmares from the past two years, which ended when a jury acquitted him of manslaughter after a brief deliberation last week.
However, he expressed exhaustion with what he sees as the failing criminal justice system in New York. “Retail workers who are trying to make a living are confronted by people like this every night,” he said. “You’re not safe on the train anymore; just getting to work is becoming a problem.”
Over the years, Enoe tried to stay out of trouble, even resorting to hiding in a cooler during confrontations with aggressive individuals. “If they came in, I’d just wait it out until they left,” he said, noting that hostility would sometimes escalate just from someone giving them a hard look.
But he couldn’t ignore Burrito, who allegedly entered a midtown pharmacy, threatening his coworkers and demanding they harm Enoe with a knife. “I didn’t realize how serious it was until the police arrived,” he recalled, mentioning that their encounter wasn’t exactly informative, as officers didn’t ask about the incident.
The significant blow came when Bragg’s office accused him of murder related to the confrontation, a charge later reduced to manslaughter during the trial.
“I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe this is happening,’” Enoe said, recalling how CVS fired him shortly after his arrest.
After being released on a $100,000 bail with help from another employer, he found himself under the obligation of wearing an ankle monitor. “I wanted to go to church, but it was complicated under these conditions,” he mentioned, explaining how he managed to find time to attend.
When offered a plea deal of five years in prison, Enoe and his lawyer, Frank Rothman, quickly dismissed it. “We’ve been fighting this all along,” he insisted, eager to share his side in court.
During the trial, a former colleague testified about Burrito’s threats, stating he had said, “I can kill y’all” before their physical altercation ensued. Ultimately, Enoe was convicted of a lesser charge for possessing brass knuckles, but prison time isn’t expected.
Despite the ordeal leaving him with resentment, Enoe hasn’t decided if he wants to pursue legal action for what he perceives as a miscarriage of justice. “I don’t feel angry with anyone,” he said. “I’m just glad to be safe, to return to work, and to get back to a life that feels normal.”
Bragg’s office has not responded to inquiries about the case.
Since he took office in 2021, the conviction rate in the Manhattan DA’s office has dropped significantly, with only 35% of felony cases resulting in convictions last year.
This trend has seen a decline from 2019 prior to the implementation of the Awakening Discovery Reform Act, which had a higher 64% conviction rate.
Bragg’s approach has drawn criticism, particularly regarding early decisions to pursue murder charges against individuals defending themselves, including the case of a worker who was attacked in a Harlem bodega.
The backlash led to the eventual dismissal of charges against that individual.
Enoe noted parallels between his experience and that of another man acquitted for a fatal chokehold incident, emphasizing that both were acting to protect the public. “It’s a similar situation, as both involved individuals harassing people just trying to go about their day,” he observed.
