By The TimesLedger
NEW YORK CITY— The city was put on high alert Tuesday after warnings of a possible terrorist attack at either the Brooklyn Bridge or Statue of Liberty, police said.
In response to the warnings from the FBI, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly stepped up patrols on all of the Manhattan river crossings.
“We are taking all necessary precautions and are communicating with the appropriate law enforcement agencies on both the state and federal levels,” Kelly said. “It is our policy not to comment on any details relating to threats or our response as it could undermine our counter terrorism and intelligence operations.”
With regard to the building and security at Borough Hall, borough president spokesman Dan Andrews said security has been heightened. He said no one can get into the building, including employees, without showing a photo ID.
“I think everybody on an individual basis is staying alert and being aware of their surroundings, and the Police Department has indicated we can all be their eyes and ears,” Andrews said. “In that sense here’s a heightened awareness. I think everybody is doing whatever they can in that way.”
Teen stabbed in 3 firefighters, 3 others injured in Jamaica fire
JAMAICA — Three firefighters and three civilians were injured in a fire that ripped through a house at 128-38 149th St. Monday at 2:29 a.m., the Fire Department said.
The three firefighters suffered injuries, including burns to the back and ankles, and were taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital, FDNY said. The three civilians were taken to Jamaica Hospital also in stable condition said the FDNY.
Twenty-five units and 106 firefighters were needed to control the blaze, said the FDNY.
South Ozone Park manconvicted in rape trial
SOUTH OZONE PARK — A South Ozone Park man was convicted Tuesday of raping and sodomizing a 25-year-old mentally retarded woman who had just returned to her home from special training, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Alonzo Brown, 30, a neighbor of the victim, was found guilty of rape, sodomy, sexual abuse and burglary charges after a nine-day trial before a jury that deliberated less than three hours, the DA said.
He will be sentenced before State Supreme Court Judge Stanley Katz on June 12. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
Brown attacked the victim on May 22, 2001, in her home, according to trial testimony. He dragged her to the second floor where he raped and sodomized her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone what had happened, the DA said.
Rockaways man arrested, charged with assaulting wife
ROCKAWAYS — Carmello DeJesus, 63, of 8203 Beach Channel Drive was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife, 59, and violating an order of protection, police said. DeJesus allegedly went to his home Sunday at 11:38 p.m. and stabbed his wife once in the stomach, police said.
She was taken to Peninsula General Hospital in stable condition.
Rockaway school receives anti-Semitic letter
Rockaway — A letter containing anti-Semitic remarks and pornographic material was received at JHS 198 at 365 Beach and 56th Street about 2:30 p.m. Friday, police said. The incident is being investigated as a bias crime, police said.
There were no arrest and the investigation was ongoing, the NYPD said.
Long Island man arrested on stabbing charges
JAMAICA — Officers from the 113th Precinct arrested Devon Fisher, 44, of 105 South 28th St. in Wyndanch, L.I. about 7 a.m. Friday in connection with the July 31, 1999 murder of George Nugent, 33, police said.
Fisher is charged with stabbing Nugent once in the chest after a dispute at 111-31- Farmers Blvd., police said.
Four arrested in Ozone Parkon weapons possession
OZONE PARK — Officers arrested four men early Saturday at 135th Street and Liberty Avenue on charges of criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
Responding to a call of shots fired about 5:10 a.m., police arrived and one of the men dropped a gun to the floor. Officers found another gun when they apprehended the suspects, the NYPD said.
Robbers take $16,000 from Jackson Heights store
JACKSON HEIGHTS — Two unidentified men walked into Tele-Futuo at 82-16 Roosevelt Ave. Thursday about 2:30 p.m. and stole more than $16,000 police said.
One of the two men put a 30-year-old worker in a head lock while the other put something sharp into the victim’s side and demanded money, police said.
The two men fled the scene with $16,927 in a bag, police said. There were no injuries and the investigation was ongoing, said the NYPD.
Man in parked car shot in Jackson Heights
JACKSON HEIGHTS — One man was shot in the vicinity of 89-14 34th Ave. Tuesday at 11:53 p.m as he and a friend were sitting in a parked car, police said. An unidentified 25-year-old man came up to the car and began shooting, police said.
The victim ran from the car and was shot twice in the back and taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center in serious but stable condition, said the NYPD.
The motive was unknown, there were no arrests and the investigation was ongoing, police said.
Teen stabbed in Whitestone robbery attempt
WHITESTONE — A 18-year-old man was stabbed in the back by an unidentified man Friday at 7:27 p.m. at the corner of 166th Street and 21st Avenue, police said.
The victim told police the man walked up to him on the street, pulled the knife and demand his valuables, police said. After stabbing the victim in the back the man fled the scene without taking anything from the victim, police said.
The victim was taken to New York Hospital Medical Center Queens in stable condition, police said. There were no arrests and the investigation was ongoing, said the NYPD.
Boy found unconscious in Kew Gardens dies at hospital
KEW GARDENS HILLS — A 10-month-old boy was found unconscious at 80-20 134th St. Thursday at 6:32 p.m., police said. He was taken to Queens General Hospital where he died at 7:40 p.m., said the NYPD. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.
Astoria 9-year-old brings razors to school
ASTORIA — A 9-year-old boy was arrested at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and charged with criminal possession of a weapon for bringing a large quantity of razor blades to school and handing them out to other students, police said.
Three girl students sustained minor cuts to their fingers and one teacher also cut herself while confiscating the razor blades from the boy, police said.
The students and teacher were given Band-Aids and taken to Elmhurst Hospital Center for tetanus shots, said the NYPD. The boy was taken to the 114th Precinct and his parents were notified, police said.
Arab couple reports bias incident in W. Maspeth
WEST MASPETH — A 42-year-old Arab and his wife reported being harassed by a 40-year-old man last Thursday at the corner of 46th Street and Queens Boulevard, police said. The unidentified man yelled racist remarks at the couple, spit on the man and then fled the scene about 12:30 p.m., police said.
There were no arrests and the investigation continued, the NYPD said.
Ravenswood bank heist fails, perpetrator couldn’t cut it
RAVENSWOOD — There was an attempted robbery of the Independence Community Bank at 24-38 34th Ave. Saturday at 4:20 a.m., police said. An unknown person tried to gain access to the safe by cutting a hole in the roof adjacent to the bank, police said.
No money was taken or arrests made and the investigation was continuing, said the NYPD.
Homeless man charged in LIC assault of 2nd homeless man
LONG ISLAND CITY — A homeless man has been arrested and charged with assault after allegedly beating another man who later died, police said.
Mesias Cardenas, 51, allegedly struck Carlos Llapa, who was also homeless, in the face with a bottle the morning of May 13 in front of Massis Auto Repair at 38-06 Greenpoint Ave., police said.
Both men were allegedly drunk at the time and arguing over alcohol, police said.
Llapa was discovered unconscious on the street at 8:30 a.m. and subsequently died at Elmhurst Hospital Center, police said.
Cardenas was arrested May 14 and arraigned the following day on charges of second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon, a spokeswoman for Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Bail was set at $25,000.
Burglar rapes Astoria woman, makes off with her laptops
Astoria — A 22-year-old woman was raped Thursday after arriving at her home and finding a 25-year-old man burglarizing her apartment, police said.
Police said the burglar pulled a gun on the woman after she entered her apartment near 31st Avenue about 1 p.m. The burglar then tied her up, raped her and fled with two laptop computers, the NYPD said.
There have been no arrests and the investigation was ongoing, said the police.
Man forces his way into Astoria home
ASTORIA — A 34-year-old woman was the victim of a push-in robbery at her home Tuesday at 10:20 p.m. police said. The victim opened her door to a 25-year-old man who was inquiring about an apartment for rent, police said.
The unidentified man pulled out a handgun and forced his way into her apartment, police said.
He took $60, said the NYPD. The woman suffered abrasions and redness to her neck, and was treated by paramedics.
The investigation was ongoing.
