FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com MAY 9, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 ‘CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER’ COPS NAB MAN WANTED IN STRING OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON KIDS BY TERENCE M. CULLEN tcullen@queenscourier.com After days of searching, police have arrested a man wanted in connection with sexual assaults on children in South Ozone Park. Police say Lee Samuel, 25, is the man who sexually assaulted two seven-year-old girls in separate incidents on Wednesday, May 1. According to the authorities, the suspect approached the fi rst girl around 3 p.m. and groped her while she sat on the stoop of her home. He allegedly approached the second girl around 6 p.m. while she was playing in her driveway. Police said he performed a sexual act on the girl before fl eeing on foot. Community response was rapid and active in the wake of the assaults. Authorities arrested Samuel on Tuesday, May 7 after someone who recognized him from video surveillance called Crime Stoppers, according to reports. Samuel is charged with a criminal sexual act, forcible touching and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to the district attorney. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. “The defendant is accused of being a sexual predator,” said District Attorney Richard A. Brown. “Such an allegation makes him a threat to children and a clear and present danger to society in general. Such conduct, if proven true, cannot go unpunished.” The NYPD increased its presence in the area in the days after the assaults, giving the 106th Precinct more cops to search for the suspect. The extra forces included offi cers from the sexual crimes and criminal response divisions along with eight police cars and 16 offi cers. The Community Affairs arm of the NYPD passed out fl yers depicting the suspect, and will speak to schools in the precinct about “stranger danger.” Some Indar, who comes to South Ozone Park to shop at the Home Depot on Rockaway Boulevard, said it was odd for something like this to happen in a community-oriented environment. “People don’t expect these things around here,” he said. According to reports, Samuel, of Trinidad, has 17 prior arrests, including two sex offenses. Photos courtesy NYPD The suspect on surveillance video in South Ozone Park. Checking that earns like savings. BestRate Checking 1.00APY1 % On balances of $5,000 or more. Plus, get up to $ 1 5 0 when you open a new checking account.2 Additionally, a BestRate Checking account provides you with: Free online banking and bill pay, Free Mastercard® ATM/Debit card, Free direct deposit and more. For more information or to find a branch near you, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. 1 New accounts and new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. New money is defined as money not currently on deposit with Flushing Bank. The APY is effective March 1, 2013. The annual percentage yield (APY) for BestRate Checking is 1.00% and will remain in effect for 90 days after account opening. At the end of this 90-day period the rate will revert to 0.60% and rate may change at any time without notice. You must maintain a daily balance of $5,000 for the statement cycle to receive the disclosed yield and to avoid the monthly maintenance fee of $10. A daily balance below $5,000 will be assessed a lower Annual Percentage Yield. Fees may reduce earnings. 2 New accounts and new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. This offer is limited to one checking account per household. Minimum deposit required to open a new checking account is $100. Debit Card Purchases – You will receive $75 for the completion of 5 debit card purchases. Each debit card purchase must be $25 or more. Online Banking Bill-payments OR Direct Deposit – You will receive $75 for completing 5 online banking bill-payments via Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal OR signing up for and receiving a recurring direct deposit of $250 or more. Each online bill-pay must be $25 or more. Tax refund checks do not qualify as direct deposit. Online Bill-payments, Debit Card Purchases and Direct Deposits must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ANY CUSTOMER CAN RECEIVE IS $150. The compensation will be credited to the checking account on or about 75 days after the account is opened. A 1099 will be issued in the amount credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. All offers are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details and information about these offers. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
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