12 The QUEE NS Courier • SEPTEMBER 3, 2015 FOR Breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com police beat Compiled by Cristabelle Tumola, Angy Altamirano and Alina Suriel 109th Precinct Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Malba, Whitestone, Beechhurst and Bay Terrace Teen caught after hoverboard theft in Whitestone It’s a must-have item, even for thieves. A 17-year-old was apprehended in Whitestone only 30 minutes after stealing a trendy self-balancing electric scooter, according to authorities. Edward Diee, 17, first encountered the victim — another minor whose name and age were not released by police — riding the scooter on the 147th block of 15th Drive at 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 30. Police said Diee initially approached the victim and began speaking to him, asking a number of questions before finally hitting him, shoving him to the ground and taking the scooter. The victim’s family quickly called 911 to notify police of the incident, and the suspect was found less than 30 minutes later by patrol cars cruising the area. After being positively identified, Diee was arrested and charged with one count of robbery in the second degree. Self-balancing electric scooters are popularly known as “hoverboards” despite not actually levitating off the ground, and consist of a foot rest between two wheels which propel themselves forward without any effort from the user. Wired.com reports that boards can cost between $600 to $1,800 each and that celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber and Chris Brown have all been seen using them. 112th Precinct Rego Park and Forest Hills Police nab homeless man in Forest Hills burglary spree A homeless man was interrupted while using a spoon to jam open the cash register of a Peruvian restaurant in his fourth Forest Hills burglary, cops said. The suspect — whom police did not identify — was observed by the 112th Precinct’s Anti-Crime team breaking a window in the front door of Cuzco Peru Restaurant at 98-102 Queens Blvd. at 2:25 a.m. on Aug. 26. The 60-year-old perpetrator entered the establishment by opening the front door through the window and police followed him into the restaurant shortly after, authorities said. The man was interrupted while attempting to use a spoon to open the cash register, and he managed to escape through a back entrance in the building before being apprehended by officers. The man was arraigned on a charge of burglary in the third degree and three counts of criminal mischief. He was held on bail or bond of $50,000. Upon further investigation by the 112th Precinct Detective Squad, the suspected burglar was also arrested in connection with three other August burglaries in Forest Hills. According to police, the three other commercial establishments the man is believed to have broken into are Hannah Medtrans Pharmacy in Forest Hills on Aug. 14, Trinity Tax and Financial Solutions at 116- 16 Queens Blvd. on Aug. 17 and Health Professionals NYC at 116-20 Queens Blvd. on Aug. 18. He is believed to have collectively stolen a television set and medical supplies including saline solution from the locations, but no cash. As of press time, the investigation was ongoing. 114th Precinct Astoria, Long Island City, Woodside, and Jackson Heights Two sought after shots fired outside Astoria housing complex Police are looking for two men in connection to a shooting incident in Astoria. At about 2:15 p.m. on Aug. 25 one of the suspects was in front of the Astoria Houses at 2-10 27th Ave. when he took out a gun and fired shots, authorities said. He then fled with a second man in a blue four-door sedan. No injuries were reported. The NYPD has released a photo of the vehicle and describe the suspects as black males in their early to mid-20s who were wearing white T-shirts. Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). Queens cop charged with insurance fraud for car fire: DA A Queens police officer has found himself on the other side of the law as he faces charges of insurance fraud — along with other crimes — in connection to his car which he initially reported stolen and was later found burning in New Jersey. Former cop Madalin Niculae, 28, of Queens, who served in the NYPD since 2010 and was assigned to the 108th Precinct, was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Aug. 28 on a criminal complaint charging him with perjury, insurance fraud, making an apparently sworn false statement, making a punishable false written statement and falsely reporting an incident. If convicted of the highest charge, Niculae, who was suspended from his position on Aug. 27, faces up to two-and-one-third to seven years in prison. According to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, on Aug. 3, 2014, at about 11:23 p.m. the Jersey City Police and Fire Departments responded to a vehicle fire at Jersey Avenue and 15th Street. The incident was suspected as arson involving a 2010 Acura TL registered to Niculae. Niculae then allegedly fraudulently told a Jersey City fire official that he had parked his car near his home at about 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2014, and that he first found the car missing the following day at 11 a.m. He notified police but said he did not file a police report until Aug. 4, 2014, because he had parked his car near a fire hydrant and thought it might have been towed. In statements, reports and depositions filed with the NYPD and his insurance carrier GEICO, Niculae provided similar fraudulent information surrounding the disappearance of his car even after facing warnings on police forms which state that false statements were punishable WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO. “Old World Craftsmanship” - With Over 40 Years of Reliable Service. Basement Waterproofing Brickwork Exposed “Aggregate Concrete” Pavers For More Information Contact: Arthur DiBiase Mason Contractor 718-767-0072 Licensed (# 808097) & Insured. as a misdemeanor. Niculae also made statements under oath when filing a statement with an insurance investigator, who told him that she had issues about the case. He then allegedly said he would consider withdrawing his insurance claim, which he later did. While investigating the alleged stolen car, police attained the license plate reader records for the city’s highway, bridge and tunnel crossings for Aug. 2 to 4, 2014. The readers allegedly recorded Niculae’s vehicle crossing the Williamsburg Bridge just after midnight on Aug. 3, 2014, and Port Authority license plate readers caught the same car traveling to New Jersey via the Holland Tunnel just minutes later. Records and call details for Niculae’s cellphones showed the phone was in Jersey City, near the site of the vehicle fire, at the estimated time of the discovery of the car, authorities said. The former NYPD officer then later said in a statement to the district attorney investigator that he had driven the car to New Jersey via the Holland Tunnel on Aug. 2, 2014, and left it there in hopes that it would be stolen or vandalized. The next day he returned with another person, who he allegedly told he was having money problems and could not keep up with payment on the car. The other individual then offered to burn the car for Niculae, who stayed blocks away while the person left and returned a short time later saying that the vehicle had blown up. “As a member of the police department, the defendant was sworn to uphold the law. Instead he allegedly chose to commit insurance fraud for his own personal gain,” Brown said. Niculae appeared in Central Judicial Processing Court in Jersey City on Aug. 27 and was arraigned on an arson charge in relation to the burning of his car. He faces up to five to 10 years if convicted and was ordered held on $25,000 bail. Photo courtesy of NYPD EARN EXTRA INCOME TELEPHONE SALESCLASSIFIED AD SALES Experience necessary, but will train. Part-time, flexible hours 5 days a week, 4 hour shifts Qualifications: reliable, punctual, excellent phone and people skills BAYSIDE, QUEENS LOCATION CLOSE TO LIRR SALARY + COMMISSION CALL FOR INTERVIEW 718.224.5863 ext. 228
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