12 The QUEE NS Courier • AUGUST 13, 2015 FOR Breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com police beat Compiled by Cristabelle Tumola and Angy Altamirano 112th Precinct Forest Hills and Rego Park Police rescue cat traped under truck in Rego Park One kitten who made the mistake of hiding under a delivery truck while it was stopped at a red light still has one of its nine lives thanks to the work of officers from the 112th Precinct. On Aug. 6 at about 9:30 a.m., Police Officers Keith Tuohey and Nicole Patwell of the 112th Precinct responded to a call for help about a cat under a vehicle at the intersection of Eliot Avenue and Queens Boulevard in Rego Park, according to police. When they arrived, the driver of a delivery truck explained to the officer that while he was stopped at a red light he saw a cat jump into the truck’s rear driver side wheel axle and he believed that the furry feline was stuck between the rear tire and truck, authorities said. He added that he was afraid to move the truck because he did not want to injure or kill the cat. Lieutenant Eileen Han and Patrol Supervisor Sergeant Johnny Hines, also of the 112th Precinct, responded to the scene. Han and Tuohey then crawled underneath the truck and Han used a broom stick to free the cat from under the vehicle. After it was freed, the cat, which sustained injuries to its right rear leg and left eye socket, was taken to the Animal Control & Care Center, located at 92-29 Queens Blvd. According to police, the cat was reported in good condition. 114th Precinct Astoria, Long Island City, Woodside and Jackson Heights Phony motorcycle seller robs buyer at gunpoint: NYPD A man who was supposedly selling a motorcycle robbed his buyer at gunpoint in Astoria, stealing $2,500, according to authorities. The suspect is accused of robbing the victim after meeting up with him on June 17 at about 8 p.m. The suspect and the buyer, a 45-year-old man, got together that day to arrange the purchase of the motorcycle, authorities said. The two entered the victim’s car and the suspect directed him to drive to 21-16 35th St. When they arrived, the suspect pointed a gun at the buyer’s head and demanded his money. He then handed over $2,500 and the suspect fled. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. Co-worker gets cash back following street robbery A woman almost lost a bag of cash in an Astoria robbery last month, but her co-worker was able to chase the perp down and retrieve the money, police said. The victim, a 25 year-old woman, was heading to a bank to deposit money with her co-worker just before 10 a.m. on July 6 when the incident occurred, authorities said. As the victim was walking near Steinway Street and 30th Avenue the suspect snatched the bag containing store proceeds and began to flee. According to police, the victim’s male co-worker then ran after the suspect and was able to retrieve the money, and the suspect escaped empty-handed. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. Suspect assaults, robs furniture STORE employee over missing sofa: NYPD A man assaulted and robbed an Astoria furniture store employee last month after he went looking for a refund on a sofa that he said was never delivered, police said. According to authorities, the incident began just before 6 p.m. on July 23 when the suspect entered American Design Furniture at 32-94 Steinway St. and confronted the employee about the sofa. The furniture buyer started arguing with the 24-yearold store worker and asked for his money back, police said. He then allegedly pulled out a knife and placed it against the victim while still demanding his money. After the employee handed over the $500 he wanted, the suspect began to punch the victim and took another $1,500 from his pants pockets. The suspect then fled the store in a vehicle in an unknown direction. The victim was removed to Mount Sinai Queens for minor injuries, which included a cut to his forearm, and was released, police said. Authorities describe the suspect as a Hispanic man, about 28 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall and 190 pounds with short, black hair and freckles. He was last seen wearing a pink shirt and blue jeans. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO! Old world craftsmanship for 41 years of reliable service. • Basement Waterproofing • Brickwork • Exposed “Aggregate Concrete” • Pavers For more information contact Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor 718.767.0072 Licensed #08097 and Insured Photo via Twitter/@NYPD112Pct Screenshot via NYPD Eight Brooklyn men who allegedly specialized in selling everything from stolen vehicles to narcotics have been charged for their participation in a Queens theft ring, according to the Queens district attorney. The men, ranging from 21 to 27 years of age, were indicted after a 16-month investigation that began last April and concluded this June. According to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, in April 2014 police officers assigned to the NYPD’s Auto Crime Division Theft Squad started a joint investigation with the District Attorney’s Rackets Bureau into a theft ring that was offering temporary paper license plates for sale on Craigslist. An unnamed individual allegedly contacted the number listed on the Craigslist post and later met with one of the eight men, 22-year-old Ariel Santiago, in Queens. During this encounter, the individual purchased fraudulent temporary license plates packaged with accompanying documents including blank bills of sale templates, blank 30-day temporary insurance coverage conformation forms and four blank Florida temporary registration receipts each stamped with the name of an actual auto sale business. During their meeting, the unnamed person mentioned he shipped stolen vehicles to Africa and used paper plates to transport the cars to the port. At this point Santiago allegedly said he knew people who sold high-end stolen vehicles with keys, according to authorities. Later that month at a second meeting, the person met with Santiago again to purchase five more forged temporary plates and spoke with 21-year-old Brian Hernandez and 22-year-old Luvere Gantt about buying stolen vehicles. Over the next month, the person bought several stolen motorcycles during a series of buys, including two Kawaski Ninjas, from Santiago, Hernandez and Gantt, and in one instance from 21-year-old Gerardo Torres. According to the district attorney, Torres, Gantt, 27-year-old Joseph Santiago and 21-year-old Matthew Moses later variously sold narcotics, cocaine and heroin to other individuals. It is also alleged that in addition to the other defendants, 25-year-old Sean Vargas and 21-year-old Kevin Primo were also a part of selling stolen vehicles, firearms and/or counterfeit cash. The majority of the stolen vehicles were obtained through fraudulent means from rental car companies such as Zipcar, Hertz, Enterprise, Dollar and Budget, according to the district attorney. “This small, loosely organized theft ring is accused of offering a cornucopia of stolen and illegal items for sale on the black market — including stolen motorcycles and such luxury vehicles as Cadillacs, Mercedes Benzes, Audis and BMWs, as well as forged license plates, narcotics, counterfeit cash and various firearms — including an assault rifle, shotgun and a defaced pistol,” Brown said. As of press time, Gantt, Hernandez and Torres were being sought, while the other five suspects had been arrested. The charges the men variously face include criminal possession of stolen property, criminal sale of a controlled substance, conspiracy, unauthorized use of a vehicle, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal sale of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Photo courtesy of NYPD Screenshot via NYPD Brooklyn men charged in Queens theft ring of luxury cars, motorcycles, narcotics
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