TIMESLEDGER | QNS.10 COM | JAN. 17-JAN. 23, 2020
107th Precinct
Fresh Meadows
Swastikas found inside of a vandalized car
BY JACOB KAYE
Police are investigating
an anti-Semitic incident
in Fresh Meadows,
where swastikas were
discovered written on
the inside of a car that
had been broken into and
vandalized this weekend.
The crime, reported
to the police around 9:30
p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12,
is being investigated as
a hate crime incident, according
to the NYPD. In
addition to the swastikas,
the vandals wrote foul
language on the seats of the car, which
was discovered at 76-22 173rd St., according
to authorities.
In response to the incident, Governor
Andrew Cuomo directed the State
Police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist
in the investigation.
“I am disgusted by the reports of
swastikas and hateful language found
written inside a car that was broken
into in Queens this morning,” Cuomo
said. “These blatant anti-Semitic acts
are meant to instill fear and feed the
cancer of hate that has become pervasive
across this nation in recent years.”
Despite overall crime hitting a record
low in 2019, hate crimes were on
the rise this past year. Anti-Semitic
hate crimes were the driver for the increase,
according to the NYPD.
“The targeted attacks on Jews is escalating
at an alarming rate and has
reared its ugly head in our backyard
overnight,” said Assemblymember
Daniel Rosenthal. “We will not submit
to this tightening clench of hate, and
we will not stop fighting until Jewish
New Yorkers are able to feel safe
in our own neighborhoods and homes
again.”
114th Precinct
Astoria
106th Precinct
Richmond Hill
BY BILL PARRY
Police have made an arrest on
Jan. 9 Thursday night in connection
with the Jan. 6 murder of a
92-year-old Richmond Hill woman,
according to NYPD Chief of Detectives
Rodney Harrison.
Detectives from the 106th Precinct
and the Queens Detective
Squad cuffed 21-year-old Queens man
Reeaz Khan, who they say assaulted
Maria Fuertes just after midnight
as she walked northbound on 127th
Street near Liberty Avenue.
Police charged Khan on Jan. 10
with murder and sex abuse.
The victim, a resident of 103rd
Road, was walking on 127th Street
when she was approached from behind
by the suspect and assaulted
behind a parked car for nearly four
minutes before the man fled the
scene, according to Harrison.
“In this case, the defendant is alleged
to have attacked and sexually
assaulted the elderly woman on the
street. This was senseless, brutal
act of violence,” District Attorney
Katz said. “The victim was found
with her clothes pulled above her
waist and near death. The defendant
has been apprehended and now
faces the possibility of spending the
rest of his life locked behind bars.”
NYPD Deputy Chief Joseph
Kenny, the commanding officer of
Queens Borough South, said the
community came forward with
multiple tips that led to the arrest.
Kenny said Chief Medical Examiner
reported that the physical
confrontation led to multiple injuries
including contusions around
her neck and injuries around her
private area.
“Miss Fuentes was a fixture
in the neighborhood of Richmond
Hill,” Kenny said. “She was known
on Liberty Avenue. She took strolls
in the neighborhood quite often.
Like I said, she was a fixture in
the community and she will be
missed.”
Kenny added that the
investigation continues.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by email
at bparry@schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
POLICE BLOTTER
Two suspects sought in Astoria robbery: NYPD
Queens man arrested, charged in murder of
a 92-year-old Richmond Hill woman: NYPD
BY JACOB KAYE
Police are searching for two women
who allegedly robbed an 89-year-old
woman while inside an elevator in Astoria
on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
According to the NYPD, the duo entered
a residential building around 31st
Drive and 21st Street around 5:30 p.m.
and walked into an elevator with the elderly
victim.
The pair proceeded to grab the victim’s
purse and fled onto the 6th floor
and then to parts unknown. The alleged
thieves made off with $200 cash, five
checks and a MetroCard, enough for a
grand larceny charge.
The suspects are both described as
being between the ages of 18 and 26 years
old. One was last seen wearing a black
bubble jacket and red and white sneakers
and is approximately 5 feet 3 inches
tall, police say. The other is about 5 feet
7 inches tall and was last seen wearing
a blue jacket, gray sweatpants and blue
sneakers.
Anyone with information in regard
to this incident is asked to call
the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline
at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish,
1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can
also submit their tips by logging onto
the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.
NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, or on
Twitter @NYPDTips.
link
/NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM
link
