A viral video shows officers confiscating merchandise from outside of a clothing store in Melrose. Mahmoud Igbara, the owner of Roma Fashion, claimed he has the right to sell things in front of his business on Third Avenue, but authorities say otherwise. Igbara gave News 12 cellphone video that showed NYSPD officers confiscating racks of clothing outside of the store. He said they hauled about $5,000 worth of merchandise to Brooklyn, fined him and made him pay the city to store his merch for about a week. He was able to get all of the merchandise back and only wound up paying several hundred dollars in fines, storage and travel. Igbara said this happened twice within one week in late July and early August, but the video is only going viral on social media now. "I'm serving the community with nice stuff, and I seem to get treated unwell," Igbara said. "It's not fair that I get stuff confiscated and there's still drugs out there killing kids, selling vapes. There's different things for them to worry about besides worrying about a guy selling clothes." The Department of Sanitation issued the following statement to News 12: "This enforcement action occurred on a “zero-visibility block,” meaning no merchandise can be displayed on the sidewalk. This vendor was aware of these rules: On July 14, he was issued a summons for obstructing the sidewalk and, on July 16, when the issue persisted, we issued another summons and confiscated merchandise, also for obstructing the sidewalk. For those violations, the vendor paid the summonses and received his merchandise back. The Department of Sanitation does not set the rules nor the fines. The Department of Sanitation is responsible for fair and consistent enforcement of existing laws, particularly in cases where public safety or sanitation is compromised. We enforce street vending laws with a focus on situations where vending has created dirty conditions, safety issues, items being left out overnight, and setups that block curbs, subway entrances, bus stops, sidewalks or store entrances."

A spokesperson for the Third Avenue Business Improvement District [BID] sent News 12 the following statement: "The Third Avenue Business Improvement District works closely with property owners, businesses, residents and city agencies to promote a vibrant commercial corridor. While I cannot speak to this specific incident in detail, there has been increased attention on Third Avenue due to various quality of life concerns. In this case, I believe there was a concern around sidewalk obstructions. There has been a more dedicated effort around enforcement, public safety, and improving quality of life. All businesses are encouraged to review all regulations relevant to their industry and reach out to the appropriate city agency for further guidance. The BID is happy to help facilitate such discussions and ensure that everyone is on the same page."