By Cynthia Koons
“There were kids who were crying after they saw the school,” said Councilman John Liu (D-Flushing). “Principal (Cindy) Burgos was at her wit's end.”So Burgos arranged a meeting with Liu and officers at the 109th Precinct, which resulted in the arrest of one suspect Friday on graffiti charges.”This is truly outstanding work,” Liu said, commending Officer John Fleming, Lt. Louis Ricardo, Executive Officer James Donnelly and Sgt. Brian McGeown at the 109th Precinct headquarters the same day of the arrest.JHS 189, which houses Flushing International High School, was the target of nearly $3,000 worth of graffiti damage earlier this month, police said.After learning about the vandalism, cops began surveillance inside and outside the building.In talking with Queens North Graffiti Unit, the 109th graffiti team was able to track the tag – or graffiti signature – to a male student at John Bowne High School in Flushing.They could not release the tag because they said it could serve to glorify the crime. The suspect they arrested was 14 years old. Officers said he admitted to doing the graffiti during an interrogation that same day.He will be charged with making graffiti and criminal mischief, the officers said.McGeown was also involved in the arrests of two teens who were linked to six separate robberies in downtown Flushing within the past two to three weeks.Two boys, ages 15 and 17, were taken in after residents reported six separate strong-arm street robberies in the downtown Flushing area that all shared the same suspect descriptions and scare tactics.McGeown was driving through town when he witnessed a robbery and began pursuing the teens on foot. The pair were charged with robbery, McGeown said.Reach reporter Cynthia Koons by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
