12 The queens courier • december 8, 2016 FOR Breaking news visit www.qns.com police beat COMPILED BY ROBERT POZARYCKI AND anthnoy giucdei 104th Precinct Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Ridgewood This Maspeth playground has been repeatedly hit with anti-cop, anti-Semitic graffiti Reiff Playground in Maspeth has apparently been the target of hate messages since the end of October. According to NYC Park Advocates, which first reported the story, Reiff Playground has been the site of hateful and vulgar messages on three separate occasions — Nov. 29, Nov. 16 and Oct. 30. This is part of an ongoing trend of hate crimes and offensive vandalism seen across Queens and New York City in the past month. It was originally reported that anti- Semitic and anti-police messages allegedly reading “F—k the Jew,” “show money” and “F—k the Police,” along with a swastika, and money symbols and hearts were found spray painted inside the handball courts and play area of the playground located at 59th Drive between Fresh Pond Road and 63rd Street, by a parkgoer just after midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 30. NYC Parks Advocates has provided photos of the graffiti from the other two occasions. The vandal or vandals spray painted swastikas on the handball courts and on the “Reiff Playground” entrance sign right outside the park, a picture of a face with “MDMA” (aka ecstasy) written above it on the floor, vulgar sexual messages on the children’s play equipment, the word “GANG” written on a slide in gold spray paint, and the phrases “Death over Dishonor” and “F–k Christ” written in spray paint along the playground’s comfort station. “We have gotten numerous incidents like this recently across the city. There definitely has been an uptick of racially motivated hate speech,” said Geoffrey Croft, president of NYC Park Advocates. “The Parks Department, once they find out about this stuff, they are very quick to cover it up, but it is still disturbing that people feel comfortable defacing public property like that.” When QNS went to Reiff Playground on the night of Thursday, Dec. 1, to get photographs of the graffiti, it had already been removed by the Parks Department. All that remained was the remnant of something written in black paint. Croft said that the 104th Precinct has been notified of the vandalism. vandalism-sign NYC Park Advocated reported anti-police and anti-Semitic graffiti in Maspeth’s Reiff Playground on three separate occasions. Bandit in a bubble coat hit two banks for cash in Flushing & Jamaica Estates: cops A bank robber in a bubble coat who swiped cash from a pair of branches in Flushing and Jamaica Estates last month remains on the lam, according to police. Law enforcement sources said the perpetrator first visited the Chase bank located at 196-03 Northern Blvd. in the Auburndale section of Flushing at 1:55 p.m. on Nov. 23. According to police, he presented a demand note to a teller, who then provided him with an undetermined sum of cash. The crook took the money and fled westbound on Northern Boulevard. One week later, authorities said, the bandit showed up at another Chase bank, this one located at 184-01 Hillside Ave. in Jamaica Estates, at 2:58 p.m. on Nov. 30. As he did in the first caper, police said, the suspect received an undetermined sum of money after handing over a demand note to a teller. The bandit was last observed fleeing the scene in a black Lincoln Town Car. Officers from the 111th Precinct responded to the Flushing heist, while police from the 107th Precinct responded to the Jamaica Estates caper. No injuries were reported. Police described the suspect as a black male between 6 feet 4 inches and 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing between 180 and 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black bubble coat and blue jeans. Anyone with information regarding the robberies or the suspect’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential. Photo via Google Maps/Inset courtesy of NYPD Cops are searching for the man who robbed this Chase bank in Flushing and another location in Jamaica Estates. Elderly man fatally struck by cab while trying to cross Grand Central Parkway: cops Police are investigating the death of a 72-year-old man who was struck and killed by a cab while he apparently attempted to cross the Grand Central Parkway in East Elmhurst on the night of Dec. 5. Law enforcement sources said the incident occurred just before 11:18 a.m. on Dec. 5 along the eastbound lanes of the parkway just east of the Northern Boulevard exit. According to authorities, the 72-year-old man — whose identity has not yet been disclosed pending family notification — was seen attempting to cross the parkway from south to north as a 2014 Toyota Sienna yellow cab approached. Although the cab driver attempted to swerve out of the elderly man’s way, police said, the victim was clipped by the driver’s side front portion of the vehicle. The cab driver remained at the scene. Officers from the 115th Precinct, the NYPD Highway Patrol and EMS units responded to the incident. The elderly man was rushed to NewYork- Presbyterian/Queens hospital, where he was pronounced dead. City traffic laws prohibit pedestrians from walking along or across limited access roads such as the Grand Central Parkway; it’s not known yet why the victim was attempting to cross the roadway. The Collision Investigation Squad’s inquiry into the death is ongoing. • Masonry “When Only The Best Will Do!” Great Quality, Fair Pricing! 115th Precinct Corona, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights 109th Precinct College Point, Flushing, Whitestone Photos courtesy of NYC Park Advocates
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