Monday, July 28, 2014

Westchester Square News: Night Out from Crime

Westchester Square News: Night Out from Crime: Night Out from Crime 31st Annual National Night Out Against Crime - August 5th By Bill Ludwig  BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 28-  The 31st Ann...

Night Out from Crime

Night Out from Crime

31st Annual National Night Out Against Crime - August 5th

By Bill Ludwig 

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 28- The 31st Annual National Night Out (NNO) Against Crime will be held on Tuesday, August 5th.

The 47th Precinct & 47th Precinct Community Council will be holding NNO activities from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Grenada Place between Ely Avenue and Laconia Avenue, across the street from the Precinct. This year's theme is “Respect Your Neighbors - Think Quality of Life!” The opening ceremony will be at 5:00 p.m.

Deputy Inspector Ruel Stephenson and Community Affairs Officers David Belle and Jay Soto have planned an enjoyable afternoon and evening for children and adults. Our elected representatives have been invited. There will be representatives at tables from New York City agencies, and other organizations who will be giving out valuable free information. Refreshments will be served. For children's activities there will be rides and games. There will also be entertainment for the community to enjoy.

This year's slogans are: Say No To Drugs, Help Unite Our Community, No All Night Parties, Talk to Your Neighbors, Love Your Block, Do Not Block Your Neighbors Driveways, No Loud Music, and A Quiet Neighborhood is a Good Neighborhood. Bring the family out, learn about crime prevention, and have fun at the same time.
So, what exactly is NNO? It is a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW). The NATW is a nationwide organization dedicated to the development, maintenance, and promotion of community-based, law enforcement- affiliated crime prevention activities.

NNO is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Along with the traditional display of outdoor lights and front porch vigils, cities, towns and neighborhoods "celebrate" NNO with a variety of events and activities such as: block parties, cookouts, visits from local police, parades, flashlight walks, contests, and youth programs. An event doesn't have to be big or elaborate. It can be as simple as having a conversation in a neighbor's yard. The important thing is to talk to your neighbors and plan to get together. NNO has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation. More than 37 million people are expected to participate in various anti-crime programs and activities this year.

Remember, the key to participating in NNO is: turn your outside lights on, come outside to meet your neighbors, and participate in your neighborhood's special events. This way you can be a part of the nation's largest annual crime/drug prevention event on Tuesday evening, August 5th.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Westchester Square News: Bad Seed Robs Florist,

Westchester Square News: Bad Seed Robs Florist,: Bad Seed Robs Florist, iPhone stickup at motel By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 17- Something stinks at a Throggs Neck f...

Bad Seed Robs Florist,

Bad Seed Robs Florist,
iPhone stickup at motel
By Dan Gesslein
BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 17- Something stinks at a Throggs Neck florist. Cops released surveillance video of a man, they say, robbed the local florist. 
At around  9 p.m. on July 9, cops say a man cut the front gate of Jerome Florist on East Tremont Avenue. The suspect entered the store, broke into the register and removed an undetermined amount of cash.
Investigators released surveillance video of the suspect who is described as a 25-year-old white male. He is six feet tall and weighs 200 pounds. 
In an unrelated case, police are asking for the public’s help to catch a suspect who robbed a motel guest at gunpoint.
At around 4:30 a.m. on July 13, the suspect slipped inside the Sheridan Hotel at 1440 Sheridan Expressway and approached a 22-year-old woman inside the hotel. The suspect pulled out a black revolver and demanded cash and belongings. Cops say the gunman made off with $900 and an iPhone. 
The gunman is described as a 30-year-old black male. He is 6 foot 3 and weighs 220 pounds. He has brown eyes and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a red baseball cap, black sneakers, black sweatshirt and dark blue jeans.
Anyone with information on either case is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls are confidential.

Westchester Square News: Jobs wanted

Westchester Square News: Jobs wanted: Jobs wanted --Photo by David Greene Hundreds of Bronxites turned out for the second annual Bronx Jobs Fair held at DeWitt Clinton H...

Jobs wanted

Jobs wanted
--Photo by David Greene
Hundreds of Bronxites turned out for the second annual Bronx Jobs Fair held at DeWitt Clinton High School, located at 100 West Mosholu Parkway South. Sponsored by Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj and Senator Jeff Klein, the event was held on July 10. Job-seekers were able to sit down with many of the representatives of fifty-three local companies and businesses represented, including the NYPD, the New York Daily News and the Bronx Zoo. Organizers hope to exceed the 2,000 job-seeker's who attended a similar jobs fair held last October.

Westchester Square News: Did Groper Strike Near Truman HS?

Westchester Square News: Did Groper Strike Near Truman HS?: Did Groper Strike Near Truman HS? Two Victims Reported in Co-Op City By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 17- Police are hunt...

Did Groper Strike Near Truman HS?

Did Groper Strike Near Truman HS?
Two Victims Reported in Co-Op City
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 17- Police are hunting a serial groper wanted in 9 recent attacks on girls, teens and young women-- an individual who may have now struck twice in Co-op City.
The still-unidentified suspect had been wanted for nine attacks in the Wakefield, Edenwald, Williamsbridge and Eastchester neighborhoods since February.
The 47th Precinct, which serves those neighborhoods, received 50 additional officers on July 7, due to a recent uptick in violent crime, which may explain the suspect moving to the Co-op City area that is covered by the 45th Precinct.
In the latest incidents reported on Thursday, July 10, a 14 year-old and an 18-year old reported being attacked as they walked over the I-95 overpass along Eastchester Road.
Police were still investigating the latest incidents to determine if it is the same suspect or a copycat.
Outside of Harry S. Truman High School, most students had not heard about the attacker.
One female student recalled, "We were talking to this man yesterday and he was asking for my friend's number," a second girl added, "And we told him were only 15 years-old, but he kept following us and talking to us."
The girls stated that the "buff" brown-skinned man said he had just got back from serving with the U.S. Army.
Waiting for students outside of Truman, a driver with the Consolidated Bus Transport Service suggested, "They should put signs on the busses to alert people of this guy."
On June 24, the NYPD released a wanted flyer with a police composite sketch of the individual wanted for nine separate incidents of forcible touching of females between the ages of 12 and 21.
The first incident was reported on February 13, at 7:50 a.m., when a 14-year-old female was attacked on her way to the subway along Eastchester Road.
On February 15, a second attack was reported by another 14-year-old girl who was violated by the creep as she walked passed the intersection of Burke Avenue and Eastchester Road at 9:30 a.m.
The pervert waited more than a month when he struck again, this time he inappropriately touched a 13 year-old as she walked along Magenta Street at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, March 28.
A fourth incident was reported on Monday, April 28, when he grabbed a 13 year-old from behind as she walked near Baychester Avenue at 8 a.m.
Again waiting more than a month, he struck again on Thursday, May 29, when the suspect jogged up to an 18 year-old victim and forcibly touched her in the area of Burke Avenue.
The suspect struck again the following day when he approached and attacked a 12 year-old victim in the area of East 233 Street.
On Monday, June 9, a 16 year-old reported she was attacked at 6:55 a.m., along Boston Road.
On Wednesday, June 11, at 8:15 a.m. a 21-year-old woman reported a forcible touching attack as she walked along Fish Avenue. Fifteen minutes later a 12 year-old reported a similar incident as she walked along Schieffelin Avenue.
Although traumatized, none of the victims were physically injured.
Police describe the suspect as 20 year-old black male, 5 foot 10, thin build and was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans and black sneakers. Investigators say the suspect also has a scar under his right eye.
A similar crime pattern was reported in the area of the most recent attacks, along the Eastchester Road footbridge leading to Co-Op City between September, 2010 and June, 2011.
In that string of groping incidents three, 19-year-old females were attacked by a black man between 22 and 28 years-old, 5 foot 6 tall and weighing 160 to 180 Pounds. Police could not immediately say if this suspect was ever apprehended.
The attacks have prompted a local citizens group called the New York Hero Imitative to patrol the affected neighborhoods in searching for the suspect and passing out flyers to residents.
One group member, "Spectre" said the group was encouraged by the communities reaction to their presence and added, "We're going to re-visit a few areas where we had some promising leads on this case."
One source at the local community board stated that the local community was informed of the attacks in mid-May, after a fourth attack was reported.
One police official questioned could not explain the delay in alerting the public to the pattern-crime.
The source added that detectives and police are in the process of going back to all nine locations in a search for surveillance video of the suspect.
Anyone with any information on the suspect is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls remain confidential.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Westchester Square News: $10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer

Westchester Square News: $10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer: $10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 16- The FBI is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leadi...

$10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer

$10G Reward for Pizza Shop Killer
BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 16- The FBI is now offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Antoine D. Burroughs.
Burroughs, aka Butter or Youngblood, is 25 years old, is 6 foot 1, weighs approximately 180 to 190 pounds, and has a prominent mole on his right cheek. He was last known to be in Harlem, and he is believed to have family and friends in Harlem and the Bronx.
According to the allegations in the superseding indictment unsealed on March 18, 2014, in Manhattan federal court and on other documents in the public record: On September 9, 2009, Burroughs and his accomplice, Leon Whitfield, attempted to rob an individual named Bartolomeo Antoniello at his home in Queens, New York. Burroughs and Whitfield were targeting the cash proceeds of Antoniello’s pizza shop. Antoniello’s son, Gerardo Antoniello, was home at the time and attempted to protect his father. During the struggle, Gerardo Antoniello was shot in the head and later died of his injuries. He was 29 years old.
Burroughs is charged with one count of robbery conspiracy and one count of attempted robbery; one count of discharging a firearm; and one count of murder. Whitfield was arrested on March 18, 2014, by FBI agents.
“The public can play an important role in capturing fugitives by alerting law enforcement if they have information. If you have a tip, pick up the phone and call us,” said FBI spokesman Christos Sinos. “Your help can really make a difference.”
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Burroughs is urged to contact law enforcement immediately. The FBI can be reached 24 hours a day at (212) 384-1000. Burroughs should be considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Westchester Square News: Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk?

Westchester Square News: Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk?: Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk? Activist Blames Mayor for Shootings By Michael Horowitz BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 14-  Civic activist Frank...

Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk?

Bring Back #Stop-n-Frisk?
Activist Blames Mayor for Shootings

By Michael Horowitz

BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 14- Civic activist Frank Belcher said Mayor de Blasio’s decision to overturn the city’s stop-and-frisk policy has triggered a recent spike in shooting in various parts of the city.

Belcher, a vocal supporter of Mayor Bloomberg’s aggressive approaches to fighting crime, stressed, this week, that de Blasio, through his words and deeds, has fostered an atmosphere of permissiveness among those who might be considering breaking the law.

“If we’re not careful, we’re going to see shootings in the city like they now have in the city of Chicago,” Belcher stressed. “As a society, we have to be far more concerned about victims of crime than about the rights of those who commit crimes. In short, we have to stop coddling the criminals.”

Belcher added, “The city needs to re-institute Mayor Bloomberg’s stop-and-frisk policy. The city had a much better handle in the fight against crime when Bloomberg was our mayor.”
The civic activist stressed, “Mayor Bloomberg, unlike his successor, understood that you can’t coddle criminals. He understood that aggressive action was needed to prevent the criminals from getting the upper hand over law-abiding citizens.”

Belcher’s comments in support of Bloomberg’s stop-and-frisk policy were similar to those expressed, this week, by State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr.






Diaz said that the city needs to re-institute the stop-and frisk policy to stem the recent tide of violence that has victimized New Yorkers, especially those in minority communities.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Westchester Square News: Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx

Westchester Square News: Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx: Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx Groper Wanted in Nine Attacks Since February By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, J...

Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx

Serial Groper Strikes Throughout #Bronx
Groper Wanted in Nine Attacks Since February
By David Greene
BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 9- Police are hunting a serial grouper wanted in nine recent attacks on girls, teens and young women in the Wakefield, Edenwald, Williamsbridge and Eastchester neighborhoods.
On June 24, the NYPD released a flyer with a police composite sketch of the individual wanted for nine separate incidents of forcible touching of females between the ages of 12 and 21.
The first incident was reported on February 13, at 7:50 a.m., when a 14-year-old female was attacked on her way to the subway along Eastchester Road.
On Saturday, February 15 a second attack was reported by another 14-year-old girl who was violated by the creep as she walked passed the intersection of Burke Avenue and Eastchester Road at 9:30 a.m.
The pervert waited more then a month when he struck again. This time he inappropriately touched a 13 year-old as she walked along Magenta Street at 7:30 a.m. on March 28.
A fourth incident was reported on April 28, when he grabbed a 13 year-old from behind as she walked near Baychester Avenue at 8 a.m.
Again waiting more than a month, he struck again on May 29, when the suspect jogged up to an 18-year-old victim and forcibly touched her in the area of Burke Avenue.
The suspect struck again the following day when he approached and attacked a 12 year-old victim in the area of East 233 Street.
On June 9, a 16 year-old reported she was attacked a 6:55 a.m., along Boston Road.
In his last two attacks, reported on June 11, at 8:15 a.m. a 21-year-old woman reported a forcible touching attack as she walked along Fish Avenue. Fifteen minutes later a 12 year-old reported a similar incident as she walked along Schieffelin Avenue.
Although traumatized, none of the victims were physically injured.
Police describe the suspect as 20 year-old black male, 5 foot 10, thin build and was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket, blue jeans and black sneakers. Investigators say the suspect also has a scar under his right eye.
The attacks have prompted a local citizens group called the New York Hero Imitative to patrol the effected neighborhoods in searching for the suspect and passing out flyers to residents.
One group member, "Spectre" said the group was encouraged by the community's reaction to their presence and added, "We're going to re-visit a few areas where we had some promising leads on this case."
One source at the local community board stated that the local community was informed of the attacks in mid-May. One police official questioned could not explain the delay in alerting the public to the pattern-crime.
The source says detectives and police are in the process of going back to all nine locations and are searching for surveillance video of the suspect.
Meanwhile, 50 additional cops start hitting the street's today (July 7) at the 47th Precinct. The manpower will attempt to combat the recent uptick in violent crime in the area.
Anyone with any information on the suspect is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls remain confidential.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Westchester Square News: #Toys R Us

Westchester Square News: #Toys R Us: ID Thieves Rip Off Toy Store By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 7- Cops are asking for the public’s help in trying to track down a...

#Toys R Us

ID Thieves Rip Off Toy Store
By Dan Gesslein
BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 7- Cops are asking for the public’s help in trying to track down a couple who made off with a dirt bike from a local Toys R Us.
At around 1:30 p.m. on June 21, cops say the couple used a stolen credit card to purchase a MX500 Dirt Rocket bike from Toys R Us in the Bruckner Mall. The item is priced at $449.99 according to the company’s website. 
The store’s surveillance cameras captured the couple wheeling the item out the front door of the toy store.
The suspect is described as a black male, medium build, with facial hair. He was last seen wearing sunglasses and a white t-shirt. His accomplice is described as a black woman with long hair, medium build. She was last seen wearing sunglasses, a multicolored shirt and pants, a black jacket, black sandals, and carrying a brown purse. 
Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All calls are strictly confidential.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Westchester Square News: Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?

Westchester Square News: Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?: Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?  Disgraced Council #Seabrook may get out of Jail early By Michael Horowitz BRONX, NE...

Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?

Get Out of Jail Free Card for Sea Crook?

 Disgraced Council #Seabrook may get out of Jail early
By Michael Horowitz
BRONX, NEW YORK, JULY 2- Former City Councilman Larry Seabrook, who is in the midst of serving a five-year jail sentence, could be a free man much sooner than most of his former constituents thought he would.
That’s because the U. S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals has sent the former Councilman’s case back to Manhattan Federal Court over what many lay people would view as a legal technicality.
The appeals court, after a review of the facts in the case, has the power to order a third trial of the former Bronx lawmaker.
The judges in the Court of Appeals have sent the case back to the Manhattan Federal Court in response to the former lawmaker’s claim that he was denied his right to a public trial because three of his supporters were excluded from the courtroom during the jury selection.
The appeals court found that Seabrook’s appeal had merit based on the law. However, the court determined that it needed additional information on the exact circumstances relating to the jury selection before rendering a judgment on the former lawmaker’s appeal.
In his appeal of his July 2012 conviction on corruption charges, Seabrook charged that his brother, Oliver Seabrook; a friend, Carl Green, and a former constituent, Stuart Edwards, were instructed by the judge’s deputy to leave their seats to make them available for jurors.
Seabrook, in his appeal, also claimed that the media were excluded from the jury selection in his case.
"Excluding the public and the media was an error … and the integrity and public reputation of the proceedings were adversely affected by the `secret’ jury selection in this high-profile case,” Seabrook claimed, in his appeal of his July conviction on corruption charges.
Prosecutors, expressing another view, have said that the individuals who were told to give up their seats were not told to leave the courtroom.
The judge in the Seabrook case, Deborah Batts, was responsible for the vacating of a separate conviction in 2012 on grounds that are similar to those in the former lawmaker’s case.
In July 2012, a federal jury found Seabrook guilty of misdirecting hundreds of thousands of dollars for community projects to his girlfriend and relatives.
An earlier trial of Seabrook, in December 2011, resulted in a hung jury, when those on the panel couldn’t agree on whether or not the former Councilman was guilty or innocent.