Results tagged “suffolkcounty”

An NYPD officer was in court yesterday, being charged with first-degree attempted murder for hiring a hitman to kill his ex-wife. Long Island native 42-year-old Anthony Battisti (pictured), a Queens cop who has been on the force for 17 years, is accused of paying his handyman $5,000 to kill his ex-wife Patricia. Timothy Gersbeck, the 37-year-old handyman from Levittown, was arrested in January for stabbing Patricia Battisti in the neck with a screwdriver multiple times, an attack outside the Battistis Franklin Square house that she survived. Prosecutors say that Anthony Battisti was jealous that his wife had begun dating a NYC firefighter.

In Naked Lunch, William Burroughs wrote that while on heroin he could stare at his shoe with rapt attention for hours on end. So it's fitting that the largest smack bust in Suffolk County history should involve footwear: Prosecutors announced today that the Suffolk County Heroin Task Force has seized 17 pounds of heroin found stashed inside plastic shoe insoles. Two unidentified New Jersey men were busted outside a Melville, NY hotel on July 25th. Officials say the powdered heroin was organized in small blocks in the insoles. An analysis has determined that the heroin is 85 to 90 percent pure and could have been divided into up to a half-million dosages, enough to make even the most boring pair of loafers look interesting for decades.

What's the point of a suspended license again? Because some drivers who shouldn't be driving still are—with some tragic results. In Suffolk County over the weekend, a woman with a suspended license driving a minivan fatally struck a young man on his bicycle. Newsday reports, "With his father going blind, Daniel Mauricio Cornejo Carranza, 16, took a weekend job at a fast-food restaurant to help his family make ends meet"—the 16-year-old was biking to his early Sunday morning shift. Driver Karen Omara-Swett inititally thought she hit a deer but saw the clothing on the side of the road and called 911. She faces "third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle" charges and a fine; the police say the glare from the sun at the time might have been a factor. And on the LIE, Bronx resident David Nieves was arrested for allegedly riding his motorcycle at 120 mph; he was "charged with reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed driving and unlawful fleeing" (because he didn't immediately pull over).

Two years ago, Louis Wiederer tried to stop his girlfriend from driving away from a Suffolk County block party while drunk. But Jesenia Vega ignored him and drove off—and Wiederer, who was clinging to her Nissan Altima's window, slipped off and was caught under the car and killed. Vega dragged his body 600 feet before stopping. Vega, who initially claimed that Widener was hitting her and she was trying to get away (a witness had said, "It looked like he was hitting her, but he was trying to stop her... She was totally irrational"), had pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and DWI earlier this year. Now she faces one to three years in prison; Vega said yesterday, "It was a bad, bad accident that I have to relive everyday." Wiederer's mother said, "Louis was too good for you, Jesenia."

Cops who arrested three people—two women and one man—for assaulting a woman in Mastic Beach say that the trio "made numerous anti-gay remarks about the victim's sexual orientation." According to Newsday, Nora Mitzner (pictured), Lindsay McBeth, and Selwyn Icangelo repeatedly kicked, hit and pushed the female victim last night; the victim's injuries did not require hospitalization. The three were charged with aggravated harassment and the incident was reported to the U.S. Department of Criminal Justice. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said, "In Suffolk County, we stand united in denouncing violent and abusive acts against a person because of their race, creed, ethnicity or sexual orientation." Last year, a Ecuadorian immigrant was killed in Suffolk County during an apparent hate crime spree by teens.

The Long Island convenience store owner who took pity on a bat-wielding robber and gave him $40 and a loaf of bread is facing trouble with the law—for selling drug paraphernalia. Mohammed Sohail, as well as other business owners, "face civil penalties for allegedly selling illegal pipes, bongs and hookahs," according to Newsday. Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko and Suffolk County DA Thomas Spota claim that "Undercover investigators bought items from Sohail, and the other store owners, after making clear that they would use them for drug use." Legislator Kate Browning said that while Sohail's generosity to the would-be robber was nice, "But I know who he is, I know what he was doing. No sympathy for him." And Sohail simply told Newsday, "I threw everything in the garbage. I don't want it anymore."

A former Suffolk County lawmaker and the owners of a Soho S&M club were among five people Suffolk County prosecutors accuse of running a $50 million mortgage scam. Suffolk DA Thomas Spota, after detailing how the group allegedly bought homes with fake buyers taking out huge mortgages (with forged documents), pocketed the money and then left the homes empty, said, "The damage these defendants single-handedly caused to the East End is simply appalling."

Jose Borbon, accused of killing a Suffolk County police officer while driving drunk, apparently had a 0.19 blood alcohol level—twice the legal limit of 0.08. Prosecutors said that the test was administered 3 hours after the crash; chief trial prosecutor John Collins said, "I think it follows logically and scientifically that that (the BAC) was well higher at the time of the crash." Newsday reports that, based on that evidence judge raised Borbon's bail from $75,000 to $500,000. Borbon had a previous DWI in January and was driving with a conditional license where he could only drive to and from work—but on early Sunday morning, he allegedly plowed into Officer Glen Ciano's police cruiser, which then burst into flames, killing Ciano. Mothers Against Drunk Driving Long Island spokeswoman Denna Cohen was incredulous over the conditional license to Newsday, "To me, it's like somebody shoots you and you say, 'You know what? You need this gun for your protection, so we'll give it back to you.'"

A Suffolk County police officer was killed in a crash in Commack this morning around 4 a.m. Newsday reports, "A vehicle driven by a man in his 20s apparently tried to make a left turn while going south on Commack Road and broadsided the officer's car"—which was going north on Commack Road at Motor Parkway—"The police car spun around, struck a traffic pole, and immediately burst into flames." And apparently the fire was so immediate that "no rescue attempts were possible." The driver, who lives in Nassau County and is in his 20s, stayed on the scene and was arrested for DWI; the police officer, described as a "dedicated, hardworking," was on his way to assist a fellow officer. Last May, a Nassau County police officer was critically injured when, after pulling over a drunk driver, his patrol cruiser was rear-ended by another drunk driver. The incident prompted Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi to create the "Wall of Shame."

Yesterday, the Suffolk County DA's office said that a group of teens, already charged with fatally beating a Hispanic man to death last November, had been on a 13-month-long "hate spree," targeting and terrorizing Latinos. DA Thomas Spota said, "All of the defendants participated in what we consider to be a violent and racially driven pastime" and Newsday detailed some of the crimes:

Last July, at least two of the teens beat a Hispanic man unconscious, stealing his money and shoes.

Continue reading "More Hate Crime Accusations for Patchogue Teens"

Suffolk County police tell Newsday that a 25-year-old driver, who was lost as she was trying to find the Long Island Expressway, was fatally struck by an apparently drunk driver. Melissa Scherr had been on the cellphone with her boyfriend, trying to make her way to the highway from Melville, when her Nissan 200SX was hit from behind and thrown into a utility pole. Douglas Davis, driving a pick-up truck, was arrested for DWI and fleeing the scene. He was found after a volunteer firefighter responding to the crash noticed a man inspecting damage to the front of his vehicle in a parking lot—and the firefighter "smelled burning rubber and antifreeze coming from the truck," plus noticed both of the truck's air bags were out.

were asked them for their names. The police say the officers may have asked for IDs "so they could call them to let them know when additional gift cards have come in," but one miffed woman who turned in her late father's seven illegal guns said, "Anonymous is not 'Give us your name and number and in two weeks you'll get your gift card.'" Now the Suffolk County police say anyone who turns in an illegal gun won't get a gift card—nor will they get their illegal gun back!

Another attack this week against two Hispanic man in the town of Patchogue in Suffolk County has been chalked up to local teens--possibly ones connected to "The Caucasian Crew," the gang arrested in conjunction with the murder of Ecuadorian Marcelo Lucero. Luis Pichu and Carlos Banegas (a friend of Lucero's from Ecuador) were surrounded by a group of teens Tuesday night, some with skinhead haircuts, who yelled that they wanted "to kill everybody, all Spanish people." And yet another man has come forward and accused two of the members of the group that was arrested in Lucero's attack and murder as being the assailants when he was allegedly beaten badly while riding home on a bicycle last fall. "These people are still out there - they're still hunting," Marcelo's brother Joselo Lucero told the Post.

The Nassau County police were busy between 9 p.m. Wednesday night and 9 a.m. Thursday morning: Newsday reports that cops arrested 35 suspected drunk drivers (on the average night they only arrest 8 or 9 people!). According to Newsday, "With family parties, college students home from school and general holiday merriment, authorities call Thanksgiving weekend among the year's busiest for boozing." Also in Suffolk County, two bars served alcohol to an underage police volunteer, so the bartenders were ticketed (Suffolk cops found most other bars wouldn't even let the volunteer in).

Before the stabbing attack that would claim their final victim, 37-year-old Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero, the Long Island gang known as "The Caucasian Crew" had been out on "beaner jumping" missions for almost a week leading up to it. The Patchogue attacks included knocking one man unconscious after sucker punching him in the mouth and shooting another with a BB gun. Police believe that there are more victims as well who have not come forward out of fears for their safety. Earlier this week, charges against the Caucasian Crew ringleader, Jeffrey Conroy, who is accused of stabbing Lucero were upped from manslaughter to murder.

Ludlum Elementary School in Hempstead did not even wait until the inauguration to go ahead and rename themselves Barack Obama Elementary School last night. Like the election of Obama himself, the push to rename the school came in large part from a youth movement--this time of preteens in the largely African-American and Hispanic community. District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Laria praised the students' exuberance saying, "You want to talk about "Yes We Can!"? That was a lesson in democracy." In a very different scene elsewhere on the Island, police have arrested three Shirley men on charges of criminal mischief for the sexual and racist graffiti they left on cars in Mastic last week. Since some of the slurs threatened Obama, the Secret Service is still involved with the investigation of the three men, all in their early twenties.

Newsday reports Jeffrey Conroy, the teen who allegedly stabbed immigrant Marcelo Lucero to death, will now face the charge of murder as a hate crimes charge, upgraded from manslaughter as a hate crime. Conroy and six other teens involved in the attack on Lucero (prosecutors say they were specifically looking to "f--- up Mexicans") were also charged with conspiracy in Lucero's death and second-degree attempted assault related to another attack. Newsday also went to a parents' meeting at Patchogue-Medford High School, which the teens attend. While many spoke of healing the community, one parent yelled, "What are we doing to make sure the media doesn't grab our kids to be interviewed?" and then many parents screamed and confronted the Newsday reporter--who was escorted out even though she was given permission to attend.

A grand jury indicted the seven teens accused of killing an immigrant in Patchogue. All face charges of gang assault as a hate crime--the teens were allegedly targeting Hispanics-- while one was also indicted on charges of manslaughter as a hate crime for fatally stabbing Marcelo Lucero. Last night, over a 1,000 people held a vigil to honor Lucero--and speak out about racism. According to Newsday, Stony Brook University's director of the Social Justice Center Ruth Brandwein said, "This is an unfortunate, terrible tragedy of racism and bigotry that has some roots here. It's time we in Suffolk acknowledge it and move on," while one El Salvadoran immigrant said Nassau County was more tolerant. Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, whose hardline immigration policies prompted two recent editorials in the NY Times and Newsday, called the seven teens "white supremacists." One of the teens, Jose Pacheco, is Hispanic; his lawyer said, "Jose is distraught that some people think he committed a crime against another Hispanic."

After an Ecuadorean immigrant was stabbed to death, apparently by a group of teens looking to "f--- up" Hispanics, in Patchogue, Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy denounced the crime but later claimed it was a "one-day story," suggesting it was getting media attention because of his immigration policies.

If you're a collector of KKK literature, Suffolk County has just been a bounty for you lately. For the third time in a month, the Klan has left some free periodicals--this time six-page pamphlets on terraces and driveways in Islip Terrace. The newsletter, known as The Klansmen's Voice, did not sound particularly controversial, calling on readers to "buy American" and inviting them to subscribe annually by sending a check to a Michigan PO Box. Since the flyering didn't occur on unsolicited automobiles, it is covered under the first amendment and not illegal. Elsewhere on Long Island this week, a murder case against Patchogue teenagers was charged as a hate crime and racist graffiti turned up on car windshields in Mastic.

Suffolk County on Long Island has become the first place in New York State where it's illegal to send text messages while operating a motor vehicle. Effective immediately, drivers spotted fiddling with their cell phones will face a $150 fine. Similar legislation has been passed in Nassau and Westchester counties but has not gone into effect, and a statewide law is still tied up in the legislature. In August, New York City Councilman David Weprin also introduced a bill that would make texting while driving illegal. The father of twin 16-year-old girls, Weprin said he was motivated by last summer’s fatal accident in the Finger Lakes, in which five girls in a sport utility vehicle died when the text-messaging teenage driver swerved into oncoming traffic.

There was no brother's keeper in this Central Islip house: According to Newsday, a 14-year-old boy "stole his brother's car, took his friends for a ride around the block and slammed into a fire hydrant yesterday afternoon." And then the car exploded into flames. Two of the young passengers were taken to the hospital, while the 13-year-old in the front passenger ran away from the scene. The underage driver was taken to the hospital, treated, and then went to the Suffolk County police, which arrested him for juvenile delinquency. The boy's mother said that she usually takes those cars keys with her (the parents had gone shopping) but the boy had taken them from her purse and hid them in his room.

Suffolk County police are trying to find the driver who apparently chased a man into traffic early yesterday morning. Timothy Broderick, 42, was hit by a car driven by 19-year-old Christopher Martinez on Route 25 and Depot Road in Huntington Station. Police say Broderick was chased onto the road by a silver Dodge pickup. Martinez was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs, but police say he had nothing to do with the chase, "He was just a motorist on the road."

Just as the NYPD announced that it would distribute more Tasers as a non-lethal alternative to firearms, a Brooklyn man was killed by a Long Island police officer when he was Tasered. Suffolk County police said that the 26-year-old Tony Bradway died after being shocked twice by an officer's Taser, as the deceased was attempting to swallow a bag of cocaine.

During his testimony for the defense, a former Suffolk County medical examiner said 7-year-old Nixzmary Brown was not killed by child abuse syndrome but by a single blow. In spite of her malnourished state and various injuries battering her body, Dr. Charles Wetli said, "If you take away the head injury from this child, there is no reason that the child should have died in that time and place."

With Martin Tankleff's recent release (after 17 years behind bars) and the appointment of none other than New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo as a special prosecutor in the murder investigation, there's more attention paid to who may or may not have been responsible for the murder of Seymour Tankleff and his wife Arlene in 1988. At the time, prosecutors pegged the cold-blooded killing on their 17-year-old son Martin, claiming that the distraught teenager copped to killing his parents in hope of getting an early inheritance.

An explosion in a Long Island man's basement damaged sheet rock and spread broken glass while shredding a soft cooler Saturday evening, causing Long Island emergency personnel to respond in force. The bomb scare was the result of a show-and-tell gone awry. Francisco Lopes is a researcher at Stony Brook University, who said that he brought home some pieces of dry ice in a sealed glass jar to show his daughter. He left the container in his lunch cooler and left for dinner with family members. Unfortunately, Lopes did not realize what apparently many teenagers are fully aware of: allowing dry ice to warm in a sealed container results in a buildup of gas pressure that ends with a loud bang.

The Reverend Al Sharpton organized a rally of about 400 people outside the Suffolk County courthouse to protest the conviction of a black homeower in a white teen's death. They chanted, "Step down, DA, step down, DA" as well as "Free John White! Free John White!"

Yesterday, the Suffolk District Attorney's office announced that Martin Tankleff would not face a new trial for the 1988 murder of his parents. Tankleff was found guilty of the murders in 1990 and served about 17 years in prison.

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery on 1st Ave. in Manhattan, a possible abduction at 183rd St. and Webster Ave. in the Bronx, and a homicide on Cedarcroft Rd. and Home St. in Queens.
• A student at Stony Brook University was arrested for falsely reporting to police that he had been robbed at knife point on the Suffolk County school's campus.
• The newborn found by skateboarding teens on a Queens dumpster has been found a foster home for Christmas by the Administration for Children's Services. 'Christina Noel' was three hours old when discovered naked and stuffed in a paper bag with her umbilical cord still attached.
• Former State Attorney General and current Governor Eliot Spitzer issued the first pardon of his tenure in order to prevent the deportation of a man who was convicted and served time for robbing a payroll office. Gov. Pataki only issued one pardon his entire 12 years in office, and that was to comedian Lenny Bruce, after Bruce was dead.
• A stenographer reading back testimony in the case of a black man accused of killing a teenager he feared was going to lynch him or his son, had to leave a court room in tears. Deliberations in the racially charged trial continue with the jury saying it is deadlocked and the judge is threatening to to hold over the 12 through Christmas day.
• Dozens of buildings have to be re-inspected because city officials found that there were cracks in a pair of plumbers' resumes. The two men overstated their qualifications to install life-saving sprinkler systems.
• Profits may be down because of the sub-prime mortgage meltdown (excluding Goldman Sachs) and investment firm stocks may be in the toilet, but Wall St. bonuses are up 14% from last year. Bear Stearns CEO Jim Cayne didn't even bother showing up for an investor conference call, however, after he gave up his bonus for the firm's not-so-hot performance.
• The lawyer who is auctioning off one of the Knight Rider cars identified as KITT, suspended the auction because he found the interest overwhelming. Tasked with ameliorating the car's owner's debts, it was his first foray with eBay.