Three people were randomly hit by three-inch long darts on Sunday evening in Bensonhurst, in a sniper attack that brought to mind the dreaded "Dart Man" attacks of 1990. Police quickly apprehended a suspect, a 15-year-old boy, who allegedly fired the darts from his roof using a blowgun. An NYPD source told the Post on Monday that Vasquez "basically copped to it," but now the teen is insisting he was just along for the ride.
Alleged Brooklyn Blowgun "Dart Boy" Insists He's Just A Patsy
Brooklyn Teen Arrested In Random Blowgun Dart Sniper Attacks
Teenagers: When they're not lobbing bricks at cyclists or jumping onto subway tracks to play chicken with oncoming trains, they're firing freaking darts at pedestrians with blowguns. Yesterday residents of Bensonhurst and Bath Beach were on edge after several pedestrians were hit with three-inch long darts. Now police say they've caught one of the culprits, who allegedly fired the darts at random passers-by from an apartment window.
13-Year-Old Boy Falls Off Bike In Bensonhurst, Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver
A 13-year-old Bensonhurst boy was killed by a hit-and-run driver Saturday afternoon after he fell off his bike on 20th Avenue. Police say surveillance video shows the boy, Henry Garcia, falling off his bike and then getting run over by the driver of a green Ford Explorer traveling in the same direction. Garcia was unconscious and unresponsive when first responders arrived at the scene at 2:45 p.m., and he was later pronounced DOA at Cornell Hospital.
Cyclist Struck In Bensonhurst Hit & Run In Critical Condition
A driver struck a cyclist this afternoon in Bensonhurst then drove away, leaving the victim in critical condition. The NYPD had little information regarding the victim, other than that it was a young male, but Daily News photographer Debbie Egan-Chin is at the scene, and wrote, "reportedly the kid was run over then car backed up over him before running away." Police spokesman Brian Sessa told us that they don't have a description of the vehicle yet.
Firefighter Charged With Homicide In Hit-And-Run Gets Community Service
A firefighter involved in a fatal hit-and-run in 2010 has received a plea deal that will force him to complete community service, but serve no jail time. According to Streetsblog, Pat Quagliariello, who was charged with criminally negligent homicide for fleeing the scene after his BMW SUV struck and killed Manuel Tzaj Guachiac in Bensonhurst, must give a speech at 35 high schools about "the perils of reckless and drunk driving."
Bensonhurst Junior High School Is The Sexting Capital Of NYC
Parents around the city breathed a heavy sigh of relief after the Anthony Weiner sexting scandal last summer irrevocably made sexting uncool. And just this month, a new study found that reports of teen sexting have been greatly over-exaggerated in the press. But it seems one Bensonhurst, Brooklyn junior high school has done its best to buck that trend.
"Clorox Crew" On ATM Robbing Rampage Across Brooklyn
A group of masked ATM robbers are on the loose across Sunset Park, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst and Park Slope, identifiable only by their signature move: splashing the crime scene with bleach. Wait, where have we seen this so-called "cash'n'splash" move before? Oh, right in that Ben Affleck movie The Town! Kids really do imitate celebrities these days.
L&B Spumoni Gardens At Center Of Mob Pizza War
A bail hearing for a Colombo mobster accused of assaulting his rival in Staten Island turned into something of a food fight yesterday, with dueling pizzerias at the center of the battle.
Bloomberg Officially Challenges City's Shady Census Numbers
Oh, it's ON! As promised, Mayor Bloomberg has officially issued a challenge to the U.S. Census Bureau, and, after smacking his gloves in the face of his arch-nemesis at the Census, Dr. Robert Groves, the two will face off with pistols at dawn. (Don't worry about Bloomberg, Groves will probably miscount the bullets when he loads his gun.) At stake is some $7 billion in federal funding over the next decade, which would be cut back if the city fails to prove that the Census Bureau grossly miscounted in Brooklyn and Queens. In Jackson Heights, for instance, the Census found that the population decreased by nearly 5,200 people, or by about five percent, between the years 2000 and 2010.
Brooklyn Cafe Blocked By Big, Urine-Stained MTA Eyesores
Celebrity chefs can afford to take an eyesore-induced hit to their businesses. Mom & Pop outfits? Not unless they see Uncle Bobby for a loan. For two years, the Bay Ridge Cafe in Brooklyn, which serves damn fine Turkish cuisine, has been forced to endure two massive, ugly MTA storage containers sitting right in front of their front door. "They destroy our business, 'cause nobody can sit outside," owner Avdi Nikovoc tells NY1. "There's plenty places they can put them, where they don't bother no one, but they put exactly here." This is true: the MTA could sit them over the Fulton Street subway stop to plug the leak.
Jeweler Gets Tasered For Questioning Fake Gold
A Brooklyn jeweler was sent to the hospital yesterday after two men trying to sell fake gold to him pulled out a taser instead of their identification. Maybe they should have tried their luck on the scam that is Cash4Gold?
"Embarrasing" Bay Ridge Bike Lane Blocked Yet Again
Previously when a proposed Bay Ridge Parkway bike lane [pdf] was blocked, Council member Domenic Reccia blamed it on "safety," and said that "it would make the street even more busy." Last night, CB 10 gave no specific reason for voting down the proposal besides saying that cyclists should pay insurance. "I'm embarrassed," said one CB member, "that we rejoicethat some rejoice when they get a bike lane." Haw haw! Because there's nothing more rugged and robust than car-related death and injury. What kind of hippie wants their streets to be safe?
Fatally Stabbed Woman Found In Brooklyn Bathtub, Police Arrest Boyfriend
A man was arrested for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death and leaving her in his Bensonhurst apartment's bathtub yesterday. Brian Sohtz, a NYC Transit dispatcher, was apprehended after allegedly calling his ex-wife and telling her, "Hey, I just killed my girlfriend. I just want to come out and see my kids one last time." The ex-wife then called the Suffolk County police, which contacted the NYPD.
Man Killed In Barbershop Shootout Lost a Son On 9/11
Today's Post sheds some light on the decades-old feud that ended Tuesday in the grisly death of 77 year-old retired fireman Carmelo Calabro in a Bensonhurst barbershop. While Calabro's family never got along with the family of his shooter, Michael Mininni, people living on the block noted that tensions escalated considerably after Calabro lost his son in the attacks of September 11, 2001. "It changed him a lot" one neighbor said. "You could see he was a different person."
Feuding Neighbors Get In Deadly Shootout In Bensonhurst
Two long-feuding neighbors got into an argument inside a barber shop in Bensonhurst yesterday, leaving one neighbor dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Carmelo Calabro, 77, lived next door to Michael Mininni, 25, and his family on Bay 13th Street, and reportedly hated the Minninis so much that he erected a six-foot stone wall between their houses. Over 30 years living next door to each other the families have filed 14 harassment suits against each other, and yesterday the fighting boiled over into violence.
Cops Seek Suspect In Attempted Brooklyn Sex Assaults
Police have released a sketch and surveillance video of a man suspected of trying to rape three women in Brooklyn since January 9. The incidents were in Bensonhurst, Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn, all taking place between 1:15 a.m. and 2 a.m.
Bedbugs: The New Lice in Classrooms?
Remember the good olde days, when lice were the primary parasite tormenting our schoolchildren? So neatly confined to the scalp, so easily banished by way of a quick dip in a neurotoxin and a merciless haircut? The alarming uptick in bedbugs cases in city classrooms confirms that the simpler times are far behind us. (Fortunately or unfortunately, so is DDT.)
Firefighter Suspended Without Pay After Hit-And-Run
Though he was first reassigned to administrative duty for the duration of a hit-and-run probe, firefighter Pat Quagliariello has now been suspended without pay for 30 days. Early Sunday morning, Manuel Tzajguachiac was struck and killed by a BMW in Bensonhurst, and four hours later Quagliariello arrived at the 62nd precinct, saying it was his car involved in the accident. He would not say whether he was behind the wheel, and police are now conducting forensic tests to see if he was driving.
Firefighter Suspended During Hit-And-Run Probe
Firefighter Pat Quagliariello, who owns the BMW SUV that may have been involved in Sunday morning's fatal hit-and-run, has been placed on administrative duty while investigators determine whether or not he was behind the wheel. Manuel Tzajguachiac, 25, was struck and killed early Sunday morning on the corner of 65th Street and 20th Avenue in Bensonhurst, and four hours later Quagliariello showed up at the 62nd Precinct. He admitted to owning the car but would not say whether he was driving, and reportedly asked for a lawyer (or said he was already represented).
Firefighter Reportedly Owns SUV Involved In Hit-And-Run
Early Sunday morning, Manuel Tzajguachiac was killed in a hit-and-run in Bensonhurst, and police tracked the BMW SUV to an off-duty firefighter who "turned himself in" at the 62nd precinct hours after the accident. Pat Quagliariello wouldn't tell police whether or not he was driving, only that he owned the vehicle, which was found a block away from his Midwood home with damage to the left front fender.
Man Killed in Brooklyn Hit-And-Run
Manuel Tzajguachiac, 25, was fatally struck by a blue BMW SUV last night while crossing 65th Street near 20th Avenue in Bensonhurst. Witness Roman Ximeyo told the Daily News the crash was so hard it sounded like two cars hitting each other, and said, "The guy's stuff was on the corner, and he had flown down the street. He was on his stomach on the floor." Tzajguachiac was pronounced dead at Lutheran Hospital, and police say a man surrendered to cops at the 62nd Precinct three hours after the crash. He was released after questioning.
One-Legged Corpse Found After Being Hit By 11 Trains
The one-legged woman found dead on the Kings Highway N tracks in March had been left on the tracks after a subway operator failed to find her body—and hit by 10 other trains before she was discovered. Arabell Lin, 25, had been walking between cars when she fell, hitting a device that triggers the emergency brake. The operator searched the tracks for whatever hit the trigger, but found nothing and continued toward Coney Island. One operator told the Post, "If she was still alive, [he or she] messed up her chances."
Immigrant Beaten to Death in Brooklyn
A South Asian immigrant on his way home in Bensonhurst was beaten to death around 5:30 p.m. yesterday. The victim, whose name was "Jayanth" according to his roommate, was taken to Coney Island Hospital after the attack, but died from the injuries. Though the Daily News says he was walking home from his job, his roommate tells WPIX he lost his job at KFC two months ago. The victim had been in the country for about six months, and his roommate said, "I don't know who would do this. We're in shock." Police do not believe the killing was a hate crime.
Cop Gravely Injured During Suspect Chase Is On The Mend
In May, Police Officer Carlos Olmedo and a partner were chasing after stolen car suspects in Bensonhurst. While running at 20th Avenue and 84th Street, a motorcyclist struck Olmedo, gravely injuring him. Now, after two months in the hospital (a month of the time in a coma), Olmedo returned home and visited his Brooklyn precincthouse. He said, "It's very great to be here, and it's very great to see that many people missed me."
Brooklyn School Graduates Failing 21-Year-Old
Those rising graduation rates aren't looking too hot right now. A 21-year-old student at Lafayette High School in Bensonhurst was able to graduate along with half a dozen other students, even though they were all failing. One staffer told the Post, "They're giving out diplomas like it's a lemonade stand."
Subway Track Debris Falls On Bensonhurst Cars
Perhaps the MTA should use a little of that money they're spending to relocate people to luxury hotels and invest it into repairs on the Bensonhurst D train tracks. For the past few months, residents have been complaining that pieces of the elevated tracks on 86th Street and Stillwell Avenue have been falling onto the streets, hitting cars and putting pedestrians in danger. One local told the Daily News, "Does one of the trains have to fall off before they say, 'I guess we should fix that?'"
Family, Cops Keep Vigil For Injured Police Officer
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that the 31-year-old police officer who was struck by a motorcycle while chasing stolen car suspects in Bensonhurst is "still in extremely critical condition... The situation has not changed." Carlos Olmedo, a four-year veteran of the force and father of three, suffered serious brain injuries since being hit on Sunday, and his family and colleagues have been keeping a bedside vigil at the hospital. Kelly added, "He's a terrific young police officer and was extremely well respected. This underscores the dangers of the job."
Brooklyn Cop Remains In "Very Grave Condition"
The police officer struck by a motorcycle while chasing car theft suspects in Bensonhurst early yesterday morning remains in "very grave condition," as Mayor Bloomberg put it. The mayor added that Officer Carlos Olmedo, 31, is "being treated by the best doctors that are here [at Lutheran Medical Center], and at this point I think it's in the hands of God." Olmedo suffered head trauma and underwent surgery to relieve swelling from his brain.
Cop Struck By Motorcyclist In Grave Condition
A police officer who was chasing after possible suspects was struck by a motorcyclist and is now in grave condition. Officer Carlos Olmedo was hit at 20th Avenue and 84th Street in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn around 1 a.m. The driver of the motorcycle was also injured.
Pit Bull Mauls Toddler in Bensonhurst Apartment
So horrible: A 20-month-old boy is in serious but stable condition today after a pit bull mauled his face. Police sources say the dog became agitated when Elliot Korenblyun's parents were arguing on Sunday morning, and that she abruptly tore into the boy. "I don't understand how this happened," mother Olga Volovnik, 24, tells the Daily News. "She suddenly attacked the baby, and then we were fighting to get her off."

