12 The Courier SUN • AUGUST 1, 2013 FOR Breaking news visit www.couriersun.com s police beat COMPILED BY TONia N. CIMINO, cristabel tulmoa Cement & Brick Work Old World Craftsmanship Cement & Brick Work CALL ARTIE THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Two wannabe robbers tried to steal the ATM of a Chase Bank in Maspeth. BREAKING THE BANK BY LIAM LA GUERRE lguerre@queenscourier.com Two wannabe robbers tried to literally break the bank. The as-of-yet unidentified males stole a backhoe and attempted to lift an ATM from a Maspeth bank on July 26, cops said. The men took the heavy-duty machine from nearby Trocom Construction Corp. and rammed into the side of the Chase Bank branch on 48th Street near 54th Road around 3:12 a.m., authorities Basement Water Proofing Specialist Serving Queens for 35 Years Serving Queens for 35 Years For more information contact Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor 718.767.0072 Licensed #808097 and Insured Licensed #808097 and Insured Old World Craftsmanship CALL ARTIE Basement Water Proofing Specialist Pavers and Exposed Aggregate Concrete For more information contact Artie DiBiase Mason Contractor 718.767.0072 Two wanted in nine Queens, Manhattan armed robberies Cops are searching for two men suspected in nine store robberies around Queens and Manhattan. The thefts, six of which took place in Woodside, Astoria, Sunnyside, Flushing and Woodhaven, occurred between May 11 and July 21, according to police. The businesses the men allegedly robbed include Woodside Liquors & Wines on Woodside Avenue, Shorna Variety and Grocery on 48th Street, Desai Convenience store on 43rd Avenue, a Gulf Gas Station on the Horace Harding Expressway, Beverage Depot on Northern Boulevard and M&N Deli Grocery on Atlantic Avenue. In each incident, the suspects, one armed with a gun, entered the store and demanded money. There were no reported injuries during the robberies. Police describe the first suspect as Hispanic, 6’ tall and 180 to 200 pounds. The second suspect is Hispanic, 6’ tall tall, 180 to 190 pounds and has a tattoo on his left forearm. 102ND Precinct Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill East, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and the northern part of Ozone Park Woman stabbed in Woodhaven Natasha Martinez, 21, was returning to her Woodhaven home after work when she was attacked and stabbed from behind. The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Monday, July 29 as Martinez was walking along 85th Street when police said she was stabbed in the back and torso. There are currently no suspects or arrests, the NYPD said. A witness described the perpetrator as a black male, approximately 5’6” and 150 pounds, wearing a white t-shirt and dark jeans. Martinez was taken to Jamaica Hospital and was in stable condition as of press time, according to police. 104th Precinct Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, Woodhaven Arrest in attack A Woodhaven man has been arrested and charged with felonious assault, after he allegedly attacked a 23-old woman on July 28. Suresh Bhairo approached the woman from behind and hit her at the intersection of 81st Avenue and Myrtle Avenue, cops said. Burglaries busted Cops have made a few arrests in connection with a string of robberies in Middle Village. Police arrested Brooklyn resident Michael Watts, 37, in connection with four burglaries in the area. Middle Village resident John Lease, 21, and three other juvenile accomplices were arrested and charged in separate cases. In addition to the Middle Village cases, police arrested three individuals for burglaries that occurred in Glendale. Cops arrested Jonathan Rios, 29, James Jenkins, 21, and Calvin Covington, 45. The investigation into other burglaries is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the 104th Precinct at 718-386-3004. 105th Precinct Queens Village, Cambria Heights, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Bellerose, Glen Oaks, New Hyde Park and Floral Park Fatal crash On Sunday July 28, police responded to a call of a vehicle accident at Merrick Boulevard and Brookville Boulevard. Upon arrival, cops observed the victim, a 23-year-old man, unconscious and unresponsive with trauma to the body. EMS responded and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation determined that the victim was driving a 2013 Lexus SUV and traveling eastbound on Merrick Boulevard when it struck a fence and pole. There were no additional occupants, injuries, or vehicles involved or reported. The investigation is ongoing. 107th Precinct Fresh Meadows, Cunningham Heights, Hilltop Village, Electchester, Pomonok Driver arrested in deadly hit-andrun on Van Wyck Expressway Police have arrested a truck driver who took off after fatally striking a woman in Jamaica early Saturday morning, July 27. Carl Alvear, 34, of Maspeth, has been charged with manslaughter, cops said. The incident happened around 4:50 a.m. on the northbound side of the Van Wyck Expressway, according to authorities. The victim, who police identified as 31-year-old Queens resident Latrisha Been, was taken to Jamaica Hospital where she was pronounced dead. said. Despite their apparently backbreaking efforts, the men could not grab the ATM and fled the scene, leaving the backhoe and the cash dispenser outside and the side of the bank reduced to rubble. Police are still investigating the incident, using cameras from nearby businesses to help identify the men. The attempted ATM heist is the most recent in a string of 11 incidents in the city which started on April 9, according to cops. The backhoe was returned to the company later that day, according to a representative. Guilty plea in sex traffic of 15 year old BY MELISA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com A Queens Village man has pleaded guilty to forcing a 15-year-old girl to be his sex slave, the district attorney’s office said. Christopher Whitfield, 25, raped the teen twice and made her have sex with strangers for cash he pocketed, authorities said. The girl had run away from home when Whitfield found her last March. “His guilty plea not only ensures that he is held accountable for his actions and allows the troubled young victim in the case to move on with her life,” said District Attorney Richard Brown, “but sends a clear message that crimes such as these will not be tolerated in Queens County.” Many men answered Whitfield’s prostitution ads online between March and April 2012, the district attorney said. The teen met them on a daily basis at hotels and other locations in Queens. Whitfield beat and burned her several times on her breast, wrist and leg with cigarettes and a heated razor when she asked to stop, Brown added. She eventually escaped after being left alone. Whitfield was arrested last April. He pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking and expects to be sentenced to three to nine years in prison, authorities said. Brown said his office has convicted 12 people on sex trafficking charges since
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