Kyle Stone, Herkimer performance artist best known for his fire and water dances, last week took his art into the street. In an arresting two-hour performance on Herkimer's Pleasant Avenue, recorded by our security cameras. Stone debuted a brilliantly choreographed show of gritty urban realism. His repertoire of asocial behaviors interwove crack smoking, public intoxication and urination, drunken and reckless driving, bullying, alleged property damage and probable assault. It was a microcosm of the Herkimer gang behaviors that have long blighted the Herkimer community. Stone was ably backed up by his band of fellow druggies, seen most nights on the porch of Herkimer landlord Jay Smith's 332 Pleasant Avenue. One of them provided the Dodge Dart used by Kyle for his high-speed drunken runs. (Vehicle identification courtesy of the Herkimer police.) The show concluded with Kyle and the gang allegedly driving a reluctant participant off camera and beating him, according to Herkimer police. He's the tall kid with glasses and cap who looks like he should be in the high school science club. Below is a shorter version of the video provided Herkimer police at their request. Watch closely and you'll see Kyle throughout tying to bully the alleged beating victim into smoking something other than cigarettes. He fails. A tip of the hat to Mr. Science for courage and personal integrity. It's rare in Herkimer. May he find new friends worthy of him.  VIDEO TIMELINE Time 0:01-0:37 Gang’s party car and driver arrive. Driver goes to driveway of Jay Smith’s 332-334 Pleasant Ave. gang rentals. 0:38-1:21 Kyle Stone warms up for his dance performance. 1:22-1:31 Kyle staggers about. Watch as he tries to physically intimidate tall, non-drug using kid, later allegedly beaten up by Kyle. 1:32-1:58 Kyle dancing with lit crackpipe. 1:59-2:33 Kyle in driver’s seat, smoking crackpipe. 2:34-3:18 Kyle preps for his signature Dance-of-the-Piss. Car’s driver accompanies. 3:19-3:34 Kyle’s The-Dance-of-the-Piss. 3:35-3:52 Kyle returns to drivers’ seat of car. All now in car. 3:53-5:53 Kyle and gang merrily speed off to King Street. Return going to Protection Avenue. (Who is that woman and what was she doing off-camera?) 5:54-6:29 Speeds back down Pleasant Avenue to King Street. Allegedly caused property damage around PK’s Pub, according to Herkimer PD. Pub is on the corner of King and Pleasant. 6:30-7:02 Car again blasts down Pleasant Avenue toward Protection Avenue. This time does not return. Here Kyle’s alleged to have beaten the reluctant party-going kid. 7:03-8:19 Alleged beating victim returns on foot to 332 Pleasant. Appears to be in pain and agitated. Woman is 332’s sole wage-earner and apparently Kyle’s long-suffering relative. 8:20-End Herkimer police arrive. herkimerpost.com "We Publish What They Won't"

• published: 02 Aug 2019
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