After two days on life support, the 56-year-old bodega owner, who was shot in the face during a robbery attempt, died yesterday morning and police continued their search for the group suspected of robbing a number of bodegas over the past four months. Police Commissioner Kelly said the robbers are "certainly" considered "dangerous," but Cruz's family wonders why the police didn't tell the community about the robberies. One of Cruz's eight children, Karina Cruz, asked,......

Yesterday's reports about the number of people arrested during the 50th annual Puerto Rican Day Parade were incorrect: While numbers like 80 and 173 were offered, today the NY Times reveals 208 people were arrested, due to police concerns about the Latin Kings. However, there's some question as to whether more people without gang connections were arrested during the sweep. Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said the breakdown of the arrests was 198 gang......

It had to happen sometime. After years of dropping, the murder rate in New York City this year is back on the rise, up 9 percent from this time a year ago. But wait! Before you start freaking out, some context: "'This year has seen the second-lowest number of homicides in over 40 years,' said Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne. 'The only year lower was last year.'" Now that we've got that out of......

Who to believe? WCBS 2 reported last night that police are downplaying attacks in Prospect Park, after yesterday's Post story that "wolf packs" of teenagers were responsible for muggings in recent weeks. WCBS 2 did mention that parkgoers are aware of the attacks, but gets a statement from Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne: “Robberies in Prospect Park year to date remain flat,. Eight this year compared to eight in the same period last year." Hmm,......

After almost a year of bloggers (photo and non) worrying and snickering, plus at least two protests, the MTA and NYPD have finally decided that a subway photo ban is unneccessary! Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne says, "We are not pressing for a ban. Our officers will continue to investigate, and intercede if necessary, if the activity - photo-related or not - is suspicious," he said. The Daily News had a nice summary of......

Thousands of bikes jammed the streets of Manhattan last night as Critical Mass's monthly bike rally turned into a anti-Bush ride. About 250 of the bikers were arrested; Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said the bikers caused "massive disruptions'' and endangered motorists. Gothamist saw a few hundred of the bikers last night in the West Village, and people enthusiastically cheered the bikers, and even motorists were honking their horns, but there seem to have been......