12 The QUEE NS Courier • MARCH 5, 2015 FOR Breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com 107th Precinct Fresh Meadows, Cunningham Heights, Hilltop Village, Electchester and Pomonok Death of Kew Gardens Hills man ruled homicide A Kew Gardens Hills man who was found dead in the basement of his home on Valentine’s Day was murdered following a dispute and a suspect is facing possible charges in his killing, authorities said. Officers found 56-year-old Kevin Lopyan unconscious at about 8:40 a.m. on Feb. 14 at his 77th Avenue house, police said. He had trauma to his head and was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner’s office determined on Feb. 28 that Lopyan’s death was a homicide. Rahmatullah Popal, 21, who Lopyan had hired for doing odd jobs around his home, according to published reports, was caught with the victim’s credit card and a blank check bearing Lopyan’s name the same day he was found dead, court documents said. Popal had come to Lopyan’s place to collect $200 that he owed him, according to a criminal complaint. Lopyan then handed him a blank check and threw him out of his house. But Popal then returned to the home, surprising Lopyan by entering through the basement, and Lopyan screamed, “Robber! Robber!” when he saw Popal. That’s when the two started to fight, with Popal kicking Lopyan in the stomach and Lopyan then punching him in the face, court records said. Things turned deadly after Popal picked up a piece of a shed and used it to shove Lopyan away from him, causing Lopyan to hit his head on a door and fall to the floor. Lopyan then allegedly had a seizure and Popal held him down with the piece of the shed until he stopped moving. Popal was found that same day by police with Lopyan’s credit card and the blank check, and was charged with burglary, robbery and criminal possession of stolen property. Upgraded charges against Popal could come at his next court appearance later this month, according to the Queens district attorney’s office. 109th Precinct Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Malba, Whitestone, Beechhurst and Bay Terrace Police looking for Flushing spa robber A man held up a Flushing spa, getting away with hundreds in cash, police said. The robbery occurred at the Jessica Holistic Spa on College Point Boulevard, near Maple Avenue, just before 7 a.m. on Feb. 19. The suspect entered the spa, simulated that he had a gun and demanded money, authorities said. He then Compiled by Cristabelle Tumola, Angy Altamirano and Liam La Guerre fled with $400 in cash. Police have released video footage of the suspect and describe the man as black, 25 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches and 170 pounds. To see the video, visit www. queenscourier.com. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). Suspect wanted in burglary of Flushing auto repair shop Police are looking for a man wanted in connection to a burglary of a Flushing auto repair shop on Valentine’s Day. The suspect, described as a man in his 20s, forced his way into 43 Auto Service, located at 133-28 32nd Ave., on Feb. 14 at about 1:22 a.m. by using a wooden pallet as a ladder and breaking into the side window, cops said. Once inside, he removed an undetermined amount of money and various New York State inspection stickers. He was last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt, baseball cap and gloves. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). 112th Precinct Forest Hills and Rego Park Woman, 85, dies after being struck by school bus in Forest Hills; driver charged A school bus driver was charged for striking an 85-year-old Forest Hills woman who died two months later, police said. Jeanine Deutsch was trying to cross the intersection of 108th Street and 70th Road, less than a block from her home, at about 12:50 p.m. on Dec. 19, when a yellow International school bus hit her. According to police, the bus was attempting to turn right onto 70th Road from 108th Street when it struck the woman. Deutsch was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in serious condition. She was pronounced dead on Feb. 24. The bus driver, Isaac Sanson, 47, was arrested and charged with failure to yield right of way, police said, which is now a misdemeanor rather than a traffic violation under Vision Zero law. 115th Precinct East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights Four men wanted in robbery of East Elmhurst luxury car service company Cops are looking for suspects wanted in connection with a robbery of a luxury car service company in East Elmhurst. On Feb. 19 at about 10 p.m., three suspects entered Stride Limo Inc. at 23-57 83rd St. One of the suspects showed a firearm and demanded money from a 48-year-old victim, police said. The suspects then took the victim’s cellphone and wallet, which contained credit cards and miscellaneous items. A fourth suspect acted as a lookout for the group, according to cops, and all four men later fled in a darkcolored minivan with unknown Florida license plates. Police describe the first suspect as a black man who is between 20 to 30 years old, around 6 feet tall. He was last seen wearing a dark winter coat with light-colored lining on the hood, dark blue jeans and tan boots. The three other suspects are described as black men, 20 to 30 years old and between 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 3 inches tall. The NYPD has released photos of the first suspect and two of the other three men. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). police beat Cement & Brick Work 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 Photo courtesy of NYPD Photo courtesy of NYPD Photos courtesy of NYPD Rego Park teacher pleads guilty to sexually abusing boys, won’t see prison time A Rego Park elementary school computer teacher will be sentenced to 10 years of probation after he pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with minors in his classroom over the course of four years, according to District Attorney Richard Brown. Wilbert Cortez, 52, admitted to one count of first-degree sex abuse and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child when he appeared in court on Feb. 25. Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder will sentence Cortez on March 30. On top of serving probation, Cortez, who taught at P.S. 174, will lose his New York State Teacher’s Certificate, must complete sex offender counseling and will register as a sex offender. According to Brown, Cortez engaged in sexual conduct with four boys younger than 11 years old on multiple occasions beginning in 2007, in 2010 through the spring of 2011, and again in the fall of 2011.
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