By Courtney Dentch
A Rosedale ex-convict was charged last week with planting a fake pipe bomb in the backseat of a Brooklyn cop's car to help a jail house acquaintance beat his conviction for detonating an explosive outside the female officer's home two years ago, the Brooklyn district attorney said.
Andrasan Scott, 29, of 239-17 148th Rd., was paid by 66-year-old Stephen Alster, who is serving 20 years to life for setting off the device at a party for Officer Yensy Thomas, to allegedly put a bomb in the cop's car to make it seem like the real bomber was still on the loose, authorities said.
The inert explosive device was found in the back of an Isuzu Trooper belonging to Thomas and her husband outside their Montague Street home March 31, police said. The bomb, made up of plastic pipes filled with gasoline, sheet-rock screws and metal shards, did not have a trigger. An automatic gun and a revolver were also found in the car, police said.
Scott was arrested outside his Rosedale home last Thursday. Inside, police found bomb-making materials, including wire and adhesive, officers said. He was charged with planting a fake bomb, weapons possession, and conspiracy, the complaint said. He was arraigned Friday, and remanded into custody, a spokesman for Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes said.
Scott was conditionally released on parole in September 2 1/2 years into his three-year prison sentence for attempted weapons possession, police said. Scott, who had been convicted on robbery and weapons charges, met Alster while the two served time in Rikers Island, police said.
Alster has not been charged with hiring Scott, but authorities said they expect to do so soon. He is serving 20 years to life for setting off a bomb in front of the Thomas home in 2001, where the couple was hosting a party celebrating Yansy's graduation from the Police Academy. Alster, who was the only person injured in the blast, was infatuated with Thomas, 33, now assigned to the 13th Precinct in Manhattan, police said.
Alster allegedly hired Scott to make it appear that he had been wrongfully convicted, according to a criminal complaint filed against Scott in State Supreme Court in Brooklyn.
Based on Department of Corrections records, Scott visited Alster at Greenhaven Correctional Facility nine times between March 1 and April 22, and had several phone conversations, which were recorded by the prison system, the complaint said.
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
