14 THE QUEENS COURIER • AUGUST 10, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Photo courtesy of Suff olk County District Attorney’s offi ce
Mark Andrade is charged with at least one
rape in Forest Park.
Alleged park rapist
locked up on big bail
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
A Richmond Hill man believed to be
connected to a series of sexual assaults
of women inside of Forest Park several
years ago remains locked up on $2
million bail.
Mark Andrade, 46, of 91st Avenue
was picked upon on Aug. 2 for the
March 29, 2013 attack of a 24-year-old
woman jogging through the park in
the area of Myrtle Avenue and Forest
Park Drive, NYPD Chief of Detectives
Robert Boyce announced on Aug. 3.
Additional charges against Andrade,
however, are pending, as detectives
investigate a possible link to fi ve similar
sexual assaults in Forest Hills
between March of 2011 and August
of 2013. In several of the incidents, the
perpetrator attacked the victims with
a stun gun before sexually assaulting
them.
Th e victims in the pattern range in
age from as young as 13 to as old as 69,
police noted. All of the victims were
jogging on the Forest Park bridal paths
before they were attacked, Boyce said.
According to Boyce, detectives were
able to arrest Andrade aft er forensic
investigators matched his DNA earlier
this week to a genetic sample found on
a beer bottle recovered from the crime
scene aft er the March 29, 2013 assault.
In that attack, law enforcement
sources said, Andrade allegedly
approached the female victim and
zapped her with a stun gun numerous
times, then sexually assaulted her
before fl eeing the scene.
“Th is one young lady struggled with
him and actually pulled a beer bottle
out of his pocket and threw it,” Boyce
said. “We retrieved it, swabbed it” and
recovered the suspect’s DNA.
Th e genetic link came aft er Andrade submitted
a DNA sample upon being charged
with grand larceny in Nassau County.
Andrade was arraigned on Aug. 3
with attempted rape, robbery, assault,
predatory sexual assault, sex abuse and
criminal possession of a weapon. Bail
was set at $2 million bond or $500,000
cash; he is due back in court on Aug. 18.
Photo courtesy of Assemblywoman Stacey Pheff er Amato
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheff er Amato meets with Howard Beach residents and others at the Lindenwood Triangle.
Howard Beach pols to DOT:
Fix this traffi c ‘menace’
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
marred with “poor visibility and confusing
“Th e Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic
rpozarycki@qns.com / @robbpoz
signage” — conditions which require
Association and our business owners
that something more substantial be done.
are so happy we have such support from
Hoping to avoid tragedy before it
To that end, Amato along with State
elected offi cials in our district,” added
strikes, Howard Beach residents and
Senator Joe Addabbo, City Councilman
Joann Ariola, president of the Howard
their elected offi cials are banding together
Eric Ulrich and representatives of Queens
Beach Lindenwood Civic Association.
to demand that the city make the
Borough President Melinda Katz and
“Without their help, we realize that none
“Lindenwood Triangle” a safer place for
the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic
of the current or future improvements
drivers and pedestrians alike.
Association met last week with DOT offi -
could happen, and we appreciate their
The confluence of 88th Street,
cials about ways to make Lindenwood
steadfast work on this issue.”
153rd Avenue and 155th Avenue has
Triangle safer.
A DOT spokesperson told QNS that
been a common site for accidents for
“Th is intersection has been identifi ed
the agency is “currently studying the
years, according to Assemblywoman
by the civic association and other residents
intersection for additional safety measures.”
Stacey Pheff er Amato. While the city’s
as a menace,” Amato said. “It’s a
Once the review is complete,
Department of Transportation (DOT)
clear project for the DOT to move forward
the DOT will share the results with the
restricted parking and vehicle standing
on, and we’re calling for an end to
elected offi cials as well as Community
in the area, she noted, the triangle is still
the foot-dragging right now.”
Board 10.
Man slaps and bites Jamaica
spa worker in rape attempt
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
hearing other people enter the spa, police
edavenport@qns.com / @QNS
noted, the suspect fl ed the scene.
Th e incident was reported to the 103rd
Police are looking for a man who
Precinct; the victim was not seriously
attempted to rape an employee at a
injured.
Jamaica spa last month.
Th e suspect is described as a 35-yearold
At 9:30 p.m. on July 9, an unknown
Asian/Pacifi c Islander man with a
man, who was posed as a customer, asked
mustache. He was last seen wearing a blue
the 49-year-old female employee to use
shirt and dark colored pants.
the restroom at the Health Foot Spa located
Anyone with information in regards to
at 169-06 Hillside Ave.
this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s
As the employee escorted him to the
Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-
restroom, law enforcement sources said,
TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-
he forced her into a room and attempted
PISTA (74782). Th e public can also submit
to remove the victim’s clothing.
their tips by logging onto the Crime
According to authorities, the victim
resisted, which caused the suspect to slap
the victim’s face and bite her chest. Aft er
Stoppers website or by texting their tips to
274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All
calls and messages are kept confi dential. Photo courtesy of the NYPD