and a black Audi in front of a Baxter Avenue location and a marked police car in front of Elmhurst Hospital Center at 79- 01 Broadway. The investigation was conducted by detectives assigned to the 110th Precinct Detective Squad, the Arson and Explosion Squad and the New York City Fire Department’s Bureau of Fire Investigations. It was noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. 13 • TIMES, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2014 FIREBUG HITS ELMHURST Say He Torched Police Cruiser, Other Cars An Astoria man has been charged with trying to torch half a dozen vehicles—including a marked police vehicle—in the Elmhurst area last Wednesday, Dec. 3, prosecutors announced. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown identified the defendant as Miguel Ramos, 23, of 23rd Street, who was charged with three-counts of third-degree criminal mischief and six counts of fourth-degree arson. If convicted, Ramos faces up to four years in prison. “Ramos is charged with damaging six vehicles by stuffing a rag in each of the vehicles’ gas tanks and setting it ablaze,” Brown said in a statement last Thursday, Dec. 4. “These incidents should not be viewed as a prank. Arson is a serious W crime that will be dealt with accordingly.” According to the criminal complaint, Ramos was observed in front of a location on Layton Street at approximately 6:30 a.m. last Wednesday, alleged placing a dark-colored rag into the gas tank of a Honda Passport and lighting the rag on fire. Ramos was then allegedly observed walking a few doors down and placing another dark rag into the gas tank of a white Nissan and lighting the rag on fire.hen police arrived at the scene, it was reported, they observed the fiery rags hanging from the two vehicles and charring and damage to the gas tanks and rears of the vehicles. In conducting a search of the surrounding blocks for other vehicles that may have been targeted, police allegedly discovered four additional vehicles with dark rags hanging from the gas tanks and that had similarly sustained charring and damage to their rears. The vehicles included a black Volvo in front of the Layton Street location, a gold Chevrolet Nab Second Suspect In Sunnyside Mugging by Robert Pozarycki Both suspects who allegedly assaulted and robbed an elderly man at a Sunnyside bank two months ago are now behind bars, law enforcement sources said. Terrel Blanding, 27, of Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx was picked up last Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 3, for his alleged role in the Oct. 26 incident. His cohort—29-yearold Thomas Fulwood, also of Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx—was pinched by police the previous day, Dec. 2. Blanding and Fulwood reportedly committed the mugging at around 9:23 a.m. on Oct. 26 inside the ATM lobby at the Chase bank located at 46-10 Queens Blvd. According to authorities, they allegedly approached the 81- year-old man just after he withdrew cash and then punched him in the face. After striking the man, police said, the suspects allegedly grabbed from him $100 in cash and the victim’s debit card, then fled on foot in an unknown direction. Officers from the 108th Precinct responded to the incident. Though the victim was injured, he did not require hospitalization. Based on information obtained during their investigation, members of the 108th Precinct Detective Squad tracked down Fulwood and Blanding last week. Following questioning, they were each arrested on counts of second-degree robbery. According to court records, Queens Criminal Court Judge Toko Serita ordered Blanding held on $50,000 bond or $25,000 cash during his arraignment hearing last Thursday, Dec. 4. Serita presided over Fulwood’s arraignment the previous day and ordered him held on $20,000 bond or $10,000. Blanding and Fulwood are due back in court on Dec. 15. Fond Farewell For Qns. Beep Staffer Queens Borough President Melinda Katz presented a proclamation to Jerry LaMura, who retired last Friday, Dec. 5, after 36 years in city government—0 of which were in the Queens Borough President’s office. LaMura began at the Borough President’s Office on Feb. 2, 1984 and served across four administrations: Donald Manes, Claire Shulman, Helen Marshall and Katz. The current borough president praised LaMura as a consummate professional and wished him a very happy and healthy retirement. ©Times Newsweekly - 2014 - MORTON
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