12 The QUEE NS Courier • FEBRUARY 27, 2014 FOR Breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com s police beat COMPILED BY TONIA N. CIMINO & crisabelt tualmo 102nd Precinct Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill East, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, and the Northern part of Ozone Park Driver charged for deadly hit-and-run in Richmond Hill A man has been arrested after he struck a 73-year-old woman with his car in Richmond Hill before fleeing the scene, police said. Kaneez Hussein was walking on Jamaica Avenue near 131st Street at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, when she fell and was hit by a Nissan Altima, police said. She was a couple of blocks from her home when the accident Cement & Brick Work Queens-born Oheka Castle owner shot by masked gunman Gary Melius, owner of Oheka Castle, was shot in the head by a masked gunman in the parking lot of his lavish Long Island castle Monday afternoon, February 24, according to published reports. The 69-year-old, who was born in Jackson Heights, was undergoing surgery at a local hospital as of the late afternoon, the New York Times reported. Police said the gunman is still at large and the shooting does not appear to be random, according to reports. Melius, who made his money in real estate, lives on the Huntington property, called Oheka Castle, but utilizes it as a high-end hotel and events facility. A generous donor to both the Democratic and Republican parties, Melius also likes to use the castle as a “hangout” for political brokers, according to reports. Man charged after series of Queens mall fires Old World Craftsmanship Cement & Brick Work CALL ARTIE Basement Water Proofing Specialist Serving Queens for 35 Years Serving Queens for 35 Years For more information contact Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor 718.767.0072 Licensed #808097 and Insured Licensed #808097 and Insured Old World Craftsmanship CALL ARTIE Basement Water Proofing Specialist Pavers and Exposed Aggregate Concrete For more information contact Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor 718.767.0072 took place. The driver, identified by police as 27-year-old Bladimer Alvarez Sorto, fled, police said. Hussein was taken to Jamaica Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Sorto was later arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident and unlicensed operator, according to police. 103rd Precinct Downtown Jamaica Business District, Hollis Park Gardens, Hollis, Lakewood and Jamaica Man struck, killed trying to cross Van Wyck Expressway A man was struck and killed by an oncoming van early Sunday morning, February 23, as he was attempting to cross the Van Wyck Expressway, police said. About 2 a.m., cops responded to a call about the man running through traffic in between exits 4 and 5 in Jamaica. Upon arrival, police found the male, estimated to be in his 20s, unconscious and unresponsive with trauma, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the unidentified victim was struck by a 2010 Ford van going northbound, driven by a 45-yearold male. The vehicle remained on the scene, according to police. There are no arrests, and the investigation is ongoing, police added. 106th Precinct Howard Beach, Ozone Park and South Ozone Park Breeders’ Cup trophy taken from Aqueduct Racetrack A burglar broke into the Aqueduct Racetrack Thursday evening, February 20, and took off with a 1985 Breeders’ Cup trophy and several electronic items, police said. The theft took place about 8 p.m. on the second floor of the Rockaway Boulevard complex, cops said. Two laptops, a flat screen TV and a flat screen photo finish monitor were stolen from an office and the trophy was swiped from a restaurant, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. Seek robbers who punched female victim Police are looking for the four suspects wanted for a robbery that occurred on Saturday, February 8 in the vicinity of 134th Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard. Cops say the victim, a 41-yearold female, was approached from behind by a male suspect who punched her in the face, displayed a firearm and demanded property. The victim complied, and the suspects fled in a tan vehicle with the victim’s property. No injuries were reported. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. Perp took phone Police are looking for the man who, on February 4, reached over the counter at Wireless World and grabbed a phone out of the victim’s hand. The suspect is described as a black man, 5’8”, 180 to 200 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. 109th Precinct Downtown Flushing, East Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Malba, Whitestone, Beechhurst and Bay Terrace Perp used stolen credit card numbers Police are looking for the suspect who makes unauthorized credit card purchases using victims’ credit cards. Cops say the suspect used a credit card with an altered magnetic strip containing the victim’s credit card information to make the purchases. The suspect made the unauthorized purchases on two separate occasions inside the Lucky Ren liquor store in Brooklyn. The suspect is described as black man with short black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with black pants. Anyone with information in regards is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. 112th Precinct Forest Hills and Rego Park Suspect stole $7,000 worth of handbags from Forest Hills yoga studio Police are searching for a man who allegedly took five handbags from a Forest Hills yoga studio last month, the NYPD said. The theft happened on January 24 inside of Zen & Yoga on 71st Road. Police said the handbags are worth approximately $7,000. Authorities describe the suspect as a black male, 40 to 50 years old, 6 ‘3” tall, with dreadlocks. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. A man has been arrested following a rash of store fires at three Queens malls, police said. The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Dereck Sumair, of Jamaica, was apprehended after allegedly setting a fire at a Burlington Coat Factory at the Rego Center mall, just before 4 p.m. on Monday, February 24, the NYPD said. Earlier that afternoon, merchandise was set on fire at an Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond and Sears at the same 96-05 Queens Boulevard shopping center, according to police. On Monday, another blaze occurred at Macy’s at the nearby Queens Center mall at about 3 p.m., within 30 minutes of the other fires. Two more blazes were set about an hour earlier, at a Best Buy and Target at Queens Place, a block away, cops said. Days earlier, fires were also lit at the same Rego Center Sears, as well as a Toys”R”Us, Staples and T.J.Maxx at the shopping center, police said. No one was injured in any of the blazes, cops said. Sumair has been charged with 12 counts of arson, 11 counts of reckless endangerment and 18 counts of criminal mischief, according to police, who did not make clear which fires Sumair is charged with starting.
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