By Staff Writers
In an interview broadcast on NY1, Dr. Waverly Person of the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver said the quake was very localized. Another expert, Professor Daniel Davis of SUNY Stonybrook, said earthquakes like the one that hit Long Island City are very rare.
David said efforts were underway to locate the epicenter of the quake, which was felt in parts of western Queens, Manhattan and New Jersey.
Officers from the 114th Police Precinct, which covers Astoria, Long Island City, Hunters Point and Jackson Heights, said they received some calls about the minor quake, but did not know of any injuries.
There were no reports of disruption to subway or railroad service in Queens.
Man shot in car along 253rd St.
FLORAL PARK – A man was shot in Floral Park while driving home last Thursday night, police said.
Detective Carolyn Chew said the 42-year-old victim was driving along 253rd Street at about 6:40 p.m. last Thursday when he heard four or five gunshots.
After his car's windshield was shot out, Chew said, the man drove up onto the front lawn of a nearby home and stopped the car. Chew said the victim was shot in the thigh and was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
No motive has been determined in the case and police were investigating, she said.
Two attacked in Briarwood during brothers' fight: Cops
BRIARWOOD – Two men were attacked in Briarwood last Thursday in a dispute between brothers, police said.
One victim, 35, was allegedly stabbed three times in the head, side, and thigh by his brother during the dispute shortly before 7 a.m. last Thursday, Detective Carolyn Chew said. The incident occurred at 85-15 139 St. in Briarwood, she said.
The suspect, Guillermo Arias, 42, of 85-15 139 St., was arrested and charged with attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon, Chew said.
A second victim, 32, was also assaulted during the incident, Chew said.
Bellerose man charged with having child porn
BELLEROSE – A Bellerose man was arrested last Thursday after authorities with a search warrant found evidence of child pornography in his home, police said.
Eldo Varghese, 29, of 70-03 252 St., was arrested about 5:50 p.m. last Thursday by the New York Police Department's Computer Crimes Unit and U.S. Postal inspectors, said Detective Carolyn Chew, a police spokeswoman.
Varghese was charged with criminal possession of child pornography, Chew said.
Burglary of 156th St. home nets $31K in jewelry, cash
QUEENSBORO HILL – Nearly $31,000 in jewelry and cash was stolen from a home in Queensboro Hill Saturday night, police said.
Detective. Madelyne Galindo said one or more burglars broke into the 156th Street home through a front door and stole a suitcase containing $900 in cash and $30,000 worth of jewelry.
Police were investigating, Galindo said.
Patient missing from Hillside center
GLEN OAKS – A patient at the Hillside Psychiatric Center was missing Friday after he walked out of the facility Thursday night, police said.
Reuvens Coglower, 40, walked out of the Hillside facility at 75-59 263rd St. at about 8:30 p.m. last Thursday, Detective Carolyn Chew said.
Robber steals $150 in cash from Jamaica Estates bank
JAMAICA ESTATES – A bank in Jamaica Estates was robbed Tuesday afternoon, police said.
An unidentified man passed a note to a bank teller demanding money at the Fleet Bank at 175-57 Hillside Ave. at 2:19 p.m. Tuesday, Detective Carolyn Chew said.
The teller handed the suspect $150 in cash, Chew said. The suspect then fled the scene, she said.
No one was injured and an investigation is ongoing, she said.
2 men arrested in Rosedale on drug, gun charges
ROSEDALE – Two men were arrested Wednesday morning and charged with illegal possession of a gun and 20 pounds of marijuana, police said.
The pair also had $19,000 in cash, said Detective Carolyn Chew, a police spokeswoman.
She said police from the 105th Police Precinct's Anti-Crime Unit saw the two suspects driving erratically and followed them at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
When the officers caught up with the suspects, the officers discovered a duffel bag with a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, 20 pounds of marijuana, and $19,000 in cash inside, Chew said.
Eldan Baptiste, 23 of 19-14 Bergen St., and Sieon Marius, 28 of 208 Sumpter St., both of Brooklyn, were arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of marijuana, Chew said.
Man shot in Jamaica
JAMAICA – A man was shot three times in Jamaica Wednesday morning, police said.
The victim, 25, was shot after a dispute at 177-22 106th Rd. in Jamaica at 1:07 a.m. Wednesday, Detective Carolyn Chew said.
The victim was taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital in stable condition, she said.
No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.
Would-be car thieves attack owner in Astoria
ASTORIA – A man was slashed early Monday morning in Astoria after he tried to stop two men who were attempting to steal his car, police said.
Detective Walter Burns said the victim, 26, was leaving a club near 38th Street and 31st Avenue when he saw two men breaking into his car.
The victim approached the men, who then slashed him on his face, shoulder, and side, Burns said.
The victim was taken to Elmhurst General Hospital where he received about 100 stitches, Burns said.
Police were investigating.
Thief foiled by safe in St. Theresa's break-in
SUNNYSIDE – Someone tried to rob St. Theresa's Church in Sunnyside over the weekend but left empty-handed, police said.
Detective Robert Samuels said sometime over the weekend, someone stayed inside the church at 50-20 45 St. after it was closed for the day.
The individual broke a garage window that led to the church office and tried to break into the office safe, Samuels said. The person was unsuccessful and fled without taking anything, he said.
Police were investigating.
Man shot at Woodside party in dispute with other guest
WOODSIDE – A man was shot twice in the chest Saturday night at a party in Woodside, police said.
Sgt. Gerry Falcon said the victim, 22, was attending the party at the Tower View Catering Hall at 60-19 Roosevelt Ave. when he became involved in a dispute with another guest.
During the dispute the other guest shot the victim twice in the chest, Falcon said.
The victim was taken to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition, Falcon said.
Police were investigating.
2 Elmhurst manholes explode minutes apart
ELMHURST – Shortly after the police arrived at 91st Street and 48th Avenue to investigate a manhole explosion last Thursday night, a second one nearby unexpectedly exploded and blew off the cover, which landed on a police car, the police said.
A squad car from the 110th Precinct responded to the location around 8:40 p.m. after the police received a phone call saying the manhole had exploded, said Carmen Melendez, a police spokeswoman.
A minute or two later, a second manhole exploded, launching the cover onto the police car, the police said. One of the officers suffered ringing in his ears, the police said, and was taken to Elmhurst Hospital.
Some 50 nearby residents were evacuated to Newtown High School, police said, who added that the incident appeared to have been caused by a Con Edison transformer.
There were no reported injuries.
Accused bank robber arrested in Kew Gardens
KEW GARDENS – A man was arrested Friday and charged with robbing several banks in Queens in the past year, police said.
Craig Finlay, 34, whose address was not released, was charged with four robberies in Queens and one in Brooklyn, Det. Carolyn Chew said.
Chew said the robberies were: the Ridgewood Savings Bank at 230-22 Merrick Blvd. in Laurelton on April 6, 2000; the Chase Bank at 33-80 Fulton St. in Brooklyn on May 26, 2000; the North Fork Bank at 204-12 Hillside Ave. in Holliswood on Jan. 5, 2001; the Chase Bank at 205-19 Hillside Ave. in Holliswood on Jan. 8; and the Astoria Federal Savings Bank at 179-25 Hillside Ave. in Jamaica Estates on Jan. 10.
