A fire broke out at 1793 Sedgwick Avenue just before 4 a.m. and WCBS 2 reports, "A New York City firefighter and several civilians suffered serious injuries after the staircase collapsed. The destruction of the stairway has also left several people stranded on the building’s top floor." WABC 7 adds, "Firefighters were forced to make numerous rescues, helping women and young children on fire escapes. The residents will not be able to return home because officials say the stairwell in the apartment building is compromised." It's believed that the civilians' and firefighter's injuries are not life-threatening. more ›

A Queens woman who says a police officer used excessive force when he pepper sprayed her in the face during an arrest is suing the city for $3 million. According to the Daily News, Naeema Screven was rushing to catch the A train at the Broadway station in Brooklyn when she ducked under the yellow tape that divided the staircase into "up" and "down." That's a no-no. When she reached the bottom, she was stopped by Officer Elix Hernandez and asked to show identification. more ›