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Shocking Footage: Man Smashes Liquor Store Door With Cinder Block
The Midnight Break-In at Attica Wine & Spirits: What Happened and Why It Matters
A Quiet Night Turns Loud
Imagine it’s 1:10 a.m. on a Wednesday. The streets of Attica, New York are dark and quiet. Most people are fast asleep in their beds. But at Attica Wine & Spirits, something very different is happening.
A man named Nathaniel Salverson walks up to the store. He picks up a heavy cinder block and smashes it through the front door. Glass shatters everywhere. The loud CRASH sets off the store’s alarm system.
IMPORTANT POINT
The surveillance camera caught the whole thing on video. This helped police identify the suspect later.
The Owner Springs Into Action
John Perry owns the store. He lives in an apartment right above the shop. His tenant (someone who rents from him) heard the loud bang and the blaring alarm. They called Perry immediately.
Perry didn’t wait. He:
- Grabbed his legally owned handgun
- Raced downstairs to his store
- Found the front door completely smashed
- Saw glass scattered everywhere
- Heard the alarm still screaming
Police Arrive in Seconds
This is where things move really fast:
| Timeline | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Perry arrives | Sees shattered door, alarm ringing |
| Within seconds | Attica Police Department pulls up |
| Together | Perry and police enter with guns drawn (for safety) |
| Search building | Clear — no one inside |
| Check cameras | Perry watches the break-in footage |
The Surprising Twist: A One-Bottle Getaway
When Perry watched the security footage, he couldn’t believe what he saw.
The burglar didn’t ransack the place. He didn’t steal cases of expensive whiskey or load up a getaway car.
Instead, the video showed Salverson:
- Smash the door with the cinder block
- Panic immediately when the loud alarm went off
- Grab just ONE bottle off the nearest shelf
- Turn around and run back out the same broken door
- Sprint about 50 yards (half a football field)
- Leave the stolen bottle in the entrance of another building down the street
THINK ABOUT IT
The alarm was SO loud and sudden that it scared the burglar into abandoning his plan almost instantly. He barely got away with anything!
The Arrest and Charges
The next morning (Thursday), police arrested Nathan Salverson (same person, sometimes spelled without the "iel").
He was charged with FOUR crimes:
- Burglary — Breaking into a building to commit a crime
- Criminal Mischief — Destroying property (the door/window)
- Petit Larceny — Stealing something of low value (the single bottle)
- Possession of Burglar’s Tools — Having the cinder block for breaking in
But here’s the controversial part:
He was released after his arraignment (his first court appearance).
The Cost to a Small Business Owner
Perry is left dealing with the aftermath:
THE DAMAGE BILL
- Replacement glass: Over $1,000
- Insurance may not cover all of it
- "Money I probably won’t see," Perry said
- He calls it a "cost of doing business"
A Pattern Emerges: 8 Arrests in One Year
This wasn’t Salverson’s first run-in with the law. Not even close.
According to police, this was his 8th arrest in 2024 alone.
That means:
- Average of one arrest every 1.5 months
- He keeps getting arrested → arraigned → released
- Then allegedly commits more crimes
The Owner’s Frustration: Blaming Bail Reform
John Perry is angry, and he points to New York’s bail reform laws as the problem.
What is bail reform? (Simple version)
ELI5 EXPLANATION
In the past, if someone was arrested, they often had to pay money (bail) to get out of jail while waiting for trial. If they couldn’t pay, they stayed in jail.Bail reform changed this for many lower-level crimes. Now, judges often must release people without bail for certain offenses — including some of the charges Salverson faces.
Perry’s argument:
"These criminals know that they can do this type of thing and there’s no repercussions. They get arraigned and they get released, they get arraigned, they get released."
He believes the system creates a revolving door where repeat offenders face no real consequences.
Summary: What We Learned
| Key Takeaway | Details |
|---|---|
| What happened | Burglar smashed door with cinder block at 1:10 a.m. |
| Alarm worked | Loud siren scared burglar — he took only 1 bottle |
| Fast response | Owner and police arrived within seconds |
| Minimal theft | Bottle abandoned 50 yards away |
| Repeat offender | Suspect’s 8th arrest this year |
| Released anyway | Let go after arraignment due to bail reform |
| Real cost | $1,000+ in damage for small business owner |
| Bigger debate | Incident fuels argument about bail reform laws |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Did the burglar get away with anything valuable?
No. He grabbed one random bottle in a panic and left it in a doorway down the street. The store didn’t lose any inventory — just the broken door.
Why was the suspect released if this was his 8th arrest?
Under New York’s current bail reform laws, the charges he faces (burglary, criminal mischief, petit larceny, possession of burglar’s tools) are generally non-bail-eligible offenses. This means judges cannot set bail for these specific charges — they must release the person with a promise to return to court.
Was anyone hurt during the break-in?
No. The store was empty. The owner and police entered carefully with guns drawn for safety, but found no one inside. The burglar had already fled.
Will the business owner get his $1,000 back?
Probably not. Perry said, "Money that I probably won’t see." Even if the suspect is ordered to pay restitution (repayment), collecting from someone with a history of arrests can be very difficult.
What happens next in the legal process?
Salverson will have future court dates. If he misses them, a warrant could be issued. But for now, he’s free while the case moves through the system — which can take months or longer.
FINAL THOUGHT
This story isn’t just about one broken door. It’s a snapshot of a larger conversation happening across New York and the country: How do we balance fairness for people accused of crimes with safety for communities and small business owners? There are no easy answers, but stories like this keep the debate very real for people like John Perry.
