FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MARCH 16, 2017 • THE QUEENS COURIER 3 Lancman: Spend $25M to stop hate crimes On the steps of City Hall on March 9, Councilman Rory Lancman, who represents areas including Jamaica, Fresh Meadows and Briarwood, asked the city to fund a $25 million security grant to ensure the safety of Jewish, Muslim and other community institutions. Th e request follows an NYPD crime statistics report on March 1 that indicated that the city has recorded 24 hate crimes in 2017, which marks a 55 percent spike since the same time last year. In addition, 17 of the 24 crimes were anti-Semitic — a 94 percent increase from 2016 in those types of incidents. “In the face of rising anti-Semitism and hate crimes in New York City, we must take action to best ensure the security of at-risk NYC community centers and cultural institutions,” Lancman said. “Th e security grant program will be an essential resource to keep New Yorkers safe.” Suzanne Monteverdi City devotes big bucks to stop overdoses Th e city will invest $38 million annually to combat the increasing opioid epidemic throughout the fi ve boroughs, offi cials announced on March 13. Mayor Bill de Blasio, fi rst lady Chirlane McCray, NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill and other city offi cials introduced the “HealingNYC” initiative at a press conference. Th e eff ort includes four main components: preventing opioid overdose deaths, preventing opioid misuse and addiction, connecting New Yorkers to eff ective treatment and reducing the supply of dangerous opioids. According to recent city data, approximately eight in 10 overdose deaths in New York City involved an opioid, according to an Epi Data Brief published in August of last year. In Queens, 83 residents overdosed on some form of heroin in 2015, compared with 53 in 2012. Th e rate of heroin-involved overdose death increased more than 50 percent between 2014 to 2015 in Flushing and southwest Queens. Suzanne Monteverdi Retired cop shoots wife in Woodside A retired corrections offi cer found himself sitting in a jail cell on the morning of March 14 on attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting his wife in their Woodside home on the evening of Sunday, March 12. Prosecutors said Victor Guzman, 54, got into a dispute his 52-year-old wife over their impending divorce inside their apartment, which the New York Daily News reported is on 59th Street near Laurel Hill Boulevard, at about 7:45 p.m. on March 12. Th e couple’s 7-year-old grandson was home at the time, according to Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown. Th e argument turned violent, law enforcement sources said, when Guzman pulled out a .38-caliber fi rearm and shot his wife in the chest. Bullet fragments struck her spleen, stomach and adrenal glands, authorities said. Guzman then walked out of the home. Th e victim was brought to Elmhurst Hospital for treatment of her injuries; she is expected to make a recovery. According to published reports, Guzman was located soon aft er the shooting walking along 60th Street; he was taken into custody by police and charged with second-degree attempted murder, fi rst-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Robert Pozarycki 109th Pct. warns about work van thefts BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI [email protected] @smont76 If you’re a business owner who uses a Ford Econoline van, police in northeast Queens want you to take extra steps to protect them from thieves. Deputy Inspector Judith Harrison, commanding officer of the 109th Precinct, which covers areas of Whitestone, College Point, Flushing and Bayside, told attendees at the March 8 109th Precinct Community Council meeting that there were 32 more crimes over the last 28-day period when compared with last year. She attributed the uptick to a spike in grand larceny of autos, which were up 133 percent. “Now, we’ve got some automobiles that are being taken,” Harrison said. “We’re seeing a lot of Ford Econoline vans.” Harrison said the precinct faced the same problem about a year ago, before she arrived as commanding offi cer. Offi cers were fi nding many of the stolen vans in Queens South, primarily in Jamaica, where they were repurposed and used as “dollar vans” — a form of public transportation. “So, in addition to the parts, they do use them for the dollar vans, and what have you,” Harrison said. Community Aff airs offi cers from the precinct are advising Ford Econoline van owners to park the vehicles in well-lit areas and lock all doors. Owners should also take all of their belongings out of the vans and activate all alarms. “You know somebody that’s not here,” Harrison said. “We’re trying to get the word out there; but you can help us get the message out there, too.” Th e deputy inspector also urged all car owners not to leave their cars running and unattended, which she said has been another issue within the precinct. Harrison also reminded residents to keep their car doors locked and to take all valuables with them when exiting the vehicle. Community aff airs offi cers from the precinct were out last week distributing materials about the crime trend. Photo via Twitter/NYPD109Pct Offi cers from the 109th Precinct distribute fl yers about the area crime trend. College Point man comes home to fi nd gunmen in his living room BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI [email protected] @smont76 A College Point resident entered his home and was greeted by two armed robbers in his living room on Friday aft ernoon, according to authorities. On March 10 at approximately 5:25 p.m., the 47-year-old male victim walked into his home, located in the vicinity of 12th Avenue and 120th Street, when he observed two individuals in his living room, police said. One of the suspects proceeded to point a black fi rearm at the victim and demanded that he leave the residence. Th e victim complied and ran to his neighbor’s house to call the police. When offi cers from the 109th Precinct arrived, the individuals had already fl ed the scene in an unknown direction. Th ere were no reported injuries. An investigation determined that the duo used an unknown object to gain entry through the front door. Both suspects are described as Photo via Google Maps/Inset courtesy of NYPD Hispanic males who are approximately 5 foot 10 inches. Video footage of the two suspects can be seen on QNS.com.
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