Another violent week

Blotter Notes

By David Greene

FOOT PURSUIT IN FORDHAM

Additional police officers were called to the scene of a foot pursuit by officers at the intersection of E. Fordham Road and Webster Avenue. The incident was reported at 6:35 p.m., on March 12. The alleged suspect was reported to have been captured in a nearby Wallgreens. No details on what the individual was wanted for, were available.

MT. VERNON SUSPECT CAPTURED IN THE BRONX 

Police in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., responded to a person shot at W. Sanford Boulevard, where the suspects reportedly fled in separate vehicles. 

The incident was first reported at  5:25 p.m., on March 11. One of the suspects was reportedly spotted in the Highbridge section of the borough, where the individual was captured near the Macombs Dam Bridge, after a brief foot chase. 

The victim, identified as Rahsul Watkins, 21, was shot two times by a passing vehicle as he rode a dirt bike. Watkins was rushed to Jacobi Hospital where he died a short time later. A 22-year-old suspect was reportedly being questioned in connection with Watkins' death as well as a second homicide in Mt. Vernon.

HOUSE PARTY HOMICIDE IN MELROSE

Police were called to 752 Elton Avenue, at 6:30 a.m., on March 11, and discovered the body of a male victim who had been shot to death. 

Police say the victim Lamont Edwards, 28, had been shot several times. Unconfirmed reports say the man had just left a house party on the street, when the gunfire erupted. Police had no suspects in the case at this time.

DOUBLE SHOOTING ON LEBANON STREET

Police officers responding to a call of shots fired, discovered two victims who had been robbed and then shot. 

The incident unfolded at just before 1 a.m., on March 11, outside of 1189 Lebanon Street, near Morris Park Avenue. The victims were transported to area hospital's and were expected to recover. Police were reportedly looking for five black males, wearing dark clothing and masks. 

Five hours later, a second shooting was reported several blocks away on Boston Road, where two gunmen reportedly opened fire on a city bus, no injuries were reported in that case. Police were looking for the two male Blacks, who fled in a black Ford Expedition. 

PROSPECT AVENUE STABBING

Officers called to a disturbance, discovered a stabbing victim at Prospect Avenue and E. 152 Street. The incident was reported at just before 10 p.m., on March 10. The victim was removed in critical condition and was not expected to survive. Police were looking for six males who fled down Union Avenue.

If you have witnessed or have information on a violent crime, you may give your information anonymously by calling (800) 577-TIPS or TEXT: Crimes. ENTER: TIPS577.    

Special prosecutor 'unwarranted' in cop shooting- DA says

In response to Councilman Larry Seabrook’s call to appoint a special prosecutor in the fatal police shooting of Ramarley Graham, the Bronx DA’s office issued the following letter to the editor in this week’s issue of the Bronx News:

To the Editor,

As reported in a recent article on March 8th, a proposed resolution by Councilman Larry Seabrook, “Seabrook say(s) special counsel needed in shooting by police,” is misinformed and unwarranted. 

The proposed resolution calls on the New York State Attorney General to appoint a special counsel to investigate fatal shootings of unarmed civilians by the NYPD under the rationale that working relationship between local District Attorneys and the police department would present a conflict of interest. There is no evidence to support that claim.

Mr. Seabrook attempts to make a case for supplanting duly elected local district attorneys by citing the deaths of Amadou Diallo, Eleanor Bumpers and most recently Ramarley Graham. The fatal shooting of Amadou Diallo resulted in the Bronx DA’s Office indicting and trying four police officers for murder. In the case of Eleanor Bumpers, another police officer was tried for murder under Mr. Johnson’s predecessor. The death of Ramarley Graham is the subject of a current and active investigation. Mr. Johnson described this process in a NY1 interview which can be found at the following link:

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/155815/ny1-online--full-interview-with-bronx-district-attorney-robert-johnson

Our ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute allegations of wrong-doing by police officers, with the full cooperation of the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau, are matters of public record and include prosecutions by our office ranging from ticket fixing and perjury to assault and homicide. A number of these cases have resulted in both guilty pleas and convictions after trial, including the 1997 manslaughter conviction of former Police Officer Paolo Colecchia in the shooting death of Nathaniel Gaines, a young Navy veteran. Our office has established a solid track record of seeking fairness, justice and following the evidence wherever it might lead. 

Mr. Seabrook’s proposal would do nothing more than disenfranchise his own constituents by seeking to have a district attorney duly elected by the community replaced by someone else.

                                         Very truly yours,

Steven Reed

Director of Public Information

Office of the District Attorney, 

Bronx County

Celebrating Irish pride

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

East Tremont Avenue was a sea of green as residents took part in the 14th Annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Purim Party

BRONX, NEW YORK, Mar. 8- Come one, come all, because we’ll be celebrating Purim at Temple Hatikva, located at 2440 Esplanade, and we’ll be giving you the whole Megillah!  

The “Megillah Esther” will be read at Temple Hatikva this Friday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. Following the reading of the Megillah, there will be a fabulous Purim Party celebrating one of Judaism’s happiest holidays! This wonderful event is being co-sponsored by the Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway.

Purim recalls events long ago in Persia when a ruthless, evil prime minister named Haman attempted to hang all the country’s Jews from the gallows. After the righteous intervention by Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai, Haman was the only one hung from his own gallows.

We celebrate this event by wearing costumes, consuming lots of food and drink and having a wonderful time. You are invited to be a part of these free festivities and to celebrate Purim with us.

Temple Hatikva invites all our congregants, friends and neighbors to the Purim celebration at 7:30 P.M. this Friday, March 9. There is absolutely no charge for this event, so we invite you to bring your entire family and friends.

For further  information  please  call  Temple  Hatikva  at  (718)792-1109 or go to

www.TempleHatikva.com.

Cut Off!

11 Bronx Stores Fined in SLA Sting Operation

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, Mar. 7- Investigators at The New York State Liquor Authority (SLA) has announced that they have issued summonses to 118 stores across the city, alleging that they sold liquor to minors. The undercover

operation also netted nearly a dozen violations in the Bronx.

According to the SLA, the violations were issued during a three-day sting operation of liquor stores and bodegas, in an effort to curb underage drinking citywide, between November 16 and November 18, 2011.

Using underage volunteer decoys, members of the SLA and members of the NYPD fanned out across the borough, netting 11 violators out of 25 businesses they visited. Citywide, 41 violators were discovered in Brooklyn, 34 in Queens, 26 in Manhattan and 6 on Staten Island.

Bronx businesses charged with sale to minors are: East 174 Street Deli Grocery, 920 E. 174 Street; First Stop Deli, 1309 Clinton Avenue; JJP Food Center, 1086 Boston Road; Weeks Deli, 1777 Weeks Avenue; Rivas Grocery, 1824 Weeks Avenue; Felomar Grocery, 154 E. 175 Street; Andres Food, 237 E. 194 Street; Nizao Grocery, 2840 Briggs Avenue; Gourmet Deli, 226 E. 198 Street; Deli & Grocery, 29 E. Kingsbridge Road, and the A & A Deli at 361 E. 204 Street.

SLA Chairman Dennis Rosen said of the sting, "Preventing the sale of alcohol to minors is a top priority of the State Liquor Authority. These large scale enforcement efforts will continue to be apart of our proactive measures to prevent alcohol abuse among our youth."

Storeowners convicted of sales to minors face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation. Repeat offenders face license suspension or revocation. Those charged with selling to minors were also issued criminal court summonses by the NYPD and the violation is categorized as a class A misdemeanor.

The undercover sting is similar to one conducted back in July, 2011 that targeted shops in Western, New York that resulted in 41 summonses issued and another sting in August targeting businesses in Manhattan that allegedly caught 123 violators.

Gunman sought in Fordham club shooting

(A female patron was shot in the leg outside of the Candy Night Club on E. Fordham Road in Belmont.--Photo by David Greene)

By David Greene

Police are still looking for the gunman who opened fire on a crowd outside an E. Fordham Road nightclub, hitting a female patron in the leg.

Officers from the 48th Precinct were called to 608 E. Fordham Road in Belmont at 4 a.m., on February 17. Investigators discovered a female victim had been shot in the leg after a private party at the Candy Lounge night club.

The unidentified 23-year-old victim was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital in unknown condition. No description on the assailant was available and detectives continue to investigate.

Repeated attempts to reach the club's owner were unsuccessful.  




   

Fordham News: Fordham honors seniors prior to final game of hoop...

Fordham News: Fordham honors seniors prior to final game of hoop...: (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, Mar. 5- Fordham’s men’s basketball team (10-19, 3-13) during the 2011-12 season ...