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RT06182015

10 times • JUNE 18, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.timesnewsweekly.com police beat Compiled by Robert Pozarycki, Cristabelle Tumola and Anthony Giudice Gunmen trade shots on Bushwick block Reward offered for help in finding serial Queens bank robber Federal agents and the NYPD are offering “a significant reward” for the public’s help in finding the man responsible for at least a dozen bank robberies in Queens dating back to last year — including several armed heists. Authorities said the suspect last struck in Middle Village on Dec. 9, 2014, robbing cash from the Chase bank at 74-04 Eliot Ave. Many of the other robberies occurred in Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Maspeth, Sunnyside and Ridgewood. During each incident, the suspect reportedly passed demand notes to a teller and walked away with various sums of money. In five capers, the perpetrator displayed a handgun in his waistband to bank employees, the FBI said. Law enforcement agents describe the crook as a black or Hispanic male with a medium to light complexion standing 6 feet tall, and weighing between 200 and 250 pounds. He is usually seen on camera wearing glasses and a baseball cap with the logo of a sports team such as the New York Yankees or New England Patriots. The public should consider the suspect armed and dangerous. Among the heists in the robbery pattern are the following incidents: June 7, 2014, robbery of a Chase bank located at 77-01 31st Ave. in East Elmhurst; July 22, 2014, attempted robbery of a Santander bank located at 89-01 Northern Blvd. in Jackson Heights; July 25, 2014, heist at a Chase bank located at 47-11 Queens Blvd. in Sunnyside; Aug. 30, 2014, incident at a Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh located at 75-23 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights; Oct. 4, 2014, robbery of a Chase bank located at 69-55 Grand Ave. in Maspeth; and Dec. 6, 2014, heist at a Chase bank located at 60-67 Myrtle Ave. in Ridgewood. The FBI-NYPD Violent Crime Task Force is investigating the pattern. Anyone with information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts is urged to call the Task Force at 212-384-1000; all calls will be kept confidential. 102nd Precinct Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Ozone Park Person of interest sought in Forest Park murder Police are looking to question an individual regarding the murder of a Flushing man found dead in Forest Park last week authorities said. Zoltan Forai, also known as Stephen Forai, is believed to frequent the Bandshell and Victory Field areas of the park, police said. He is described as 44 years old, standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds and having brown eyes, brown hair and a beard. The body of Diego Piedrahita, 23, of Booth Memorial Avenue was discovered by two parkgoers at about 3:30 p.m. on June 10 near Park Lane South and Woodhaven Boulevard, police said. Piedrahita — who had blunt force trauma to the head, possibly as the result of a tree limb being used as a weapon — was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was later ruled a homicide. According to police sources, Piedrahita’s wallet and identification were found at the scene and there were no signs of a robbery. He did not have a criminal record. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). No one was injured after two unidentified individuals exchanged gunfire on a Bushwick block on June 10. The gunplay broke out at 6:45 p.m. in front of a home on Menahan Street between Evergreen and Bushwick avenues. According to information police obtained, the two unidentified males began shooting each other after a dispute broke out. Both suspects fled after exchanging bullets. Officers from the 83rd Precinct responded to the scene. Detectives recovered two .380-caliber casings and a .22-caliber shell. Police released a security camera video of one of the suspects involved. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked 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. 104th Precinct Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village and Maspeth Five teenagers were taken into custody following a robbery in Middle Village Authorities stated that the two victims were traveling through Juniper Valley Park at approximately 10:25 p.m. on June 9 when they were approached by the five suspects. One of the perpetrators reportedly displayed a knife and demanded the victims’ cellphones. During the course of the robbery, the group attacked the teens and removed their iPhones before fleeing from the scene, authorities said. Officers from the 104th Precinct responded to the incident; the victims suffered injuries that were not lifethreatening. Police apprehended the five perpetrators in the area of 69th Street and Metropolitan Avenue shortly after the incident. They were identified as Jonathan Perez 18, from the Bronx; Kenneth Cabrera 18, of Glendale; Justin Santos 19, of Middle Village; a 17-yearold male, of Maspeth; and a 15-year-old male from New Britain, Connecticut. Each suspect was charged with robbery. Wet Basement? Call artie Basement Water Proofing Specialist Serving Queens for 35 Years For more information contact Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor 718.767.0072 Licensed #08097 and Insured Photos courtesy of the FBI New York office


RT06182015
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