By Thomas Tracy
Agile youngsters put their best foot forward during a jump-a-thon benefit to fight heart disease at Public School 198. The nimble-footed troupe drew rave reviews as they executed fancy footwork in the gymnasium of the school, 4305 Farragut Road, where they alternated traditional jump-roping with the more complex “Double Dutch” version. Proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association. MURDERER SENTENCED: A reputed member of the Crips street gang was sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing a Good Samaritan who tried to break up a fight in Flatbush back in 2002. Alvin Rodriguez, 24, was convicted of shooting and killing Kenmar McCormock earlier this year. He was brought before the judge Monday, May 9, and given a maximum sentence of 20 years, said prosecutors. Rodriguez shot McCormock in the head as the James Madison High School gridiron star tried to break up a fight between a Crips member and another man outside 61 Martense Street on June 16, 2002. After an exhaustive investigation, cops caught up with Rodriguez in March 2004, hiding out in his grandmother’s home, according to published reports. *** WOMAN WAS MURDERED: More information has come to light about the woman found dead in an alley earlier this month. Officials said that the woman, who remained unidentified as this paper went to press, had been tied up, stabbed and slashed in the head, officials said. The woman, who is believed to be between 25 and 30 years old, was found wrapped in a carpet in the back of 558 Parkside Avenue just after 3 a.m. on May 3. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this discovery to call the NYPD Crimestoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. *** HOME AIDE CHARGED WITH ROBBING CHARGE: A 42-year-old home health aide was arrested last week after the handicapped man he was caring for alleged that the aide had stolen his cell phone. Police said that Ivan Nazarichuck of 800 Cortelyou Road was charged with petit larceny at 8:45 p.m. on May 8. Nazarichuck’s alleged victim, who is a quadriplegic, said that the aide took the cell phone from his wheelchair as he cared for him. His victim also alleged that Nazarichuck stole some bank statements, according to police. *** STICKY FINGERS TURN TO FISTS: A 53-year-old alleged shoplifter was arrested last week, when, after being caught by security, decided to fight off the police officers called to question her. The woman, identified as Geraldine Cousins of 253 East 48th Street in East Flatbush, was charged with resisting arrest after it took three police officers to subdue and handcuff her on May 3. Officials said that Cousins was inside a neighborhood pharmacy at 1720 Kings Highway at 2 p.m. when a security guard allegedly saw her put an item into her bag. The guard stopped her just as she was about to exit and asked for the police to come, officials said. When cops arrived, Cousins allegedly refused to give her name and began punching and kicking the officers as they tried to take her into custody on petit larceny charges. Cousins was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property, officials said. *** ARRESTED IN PARK SEX ASSAULT: A 45-year-old man was arrested recently for allegedly luring a woman into Prospect Park and then sexually assaulting her, officials said. Police said that Wilky Forest of 542 Parkside Avenue was taken into custody on charges of attempted first-degree rape, sex abuse, unlawful imprisonment and menacing in connection with the alleged attack, which took place at the corner of East Drive and Center Drive the night of April 25. Sources alleged that Forest and the victim had met earlier that night and were heading to the woman’s home when they decided to cut through the park at 8:30 p.m. As they neared the corner of East Drive and Center Drive, Forest allegedly pulled a knife and knocked his victim to the ground. He was allegedly in the process of pulling the woman’s clothes off when the victim shoved him away and ran off. The woman ran toward a witness, who flagged down a passing cop from the 70th Precinct. The officer grabbed Forest and took him into custody without incident. *** BRUISER BUSTED: Cops have arrested a man accused of attacking an acquaintance with a coffee table back in March. Officials said that Steve Baptichon, 27, had slept over his victim’s East 14th Street home when he allegedly attacked the 56-year-old as he slept at 6 a.m. on March 17, breaking two of the man’s ribs. Baptichon robbed the victim of electronics and cash before running out of the apartment, police alleged. The victim told police that he didn’t see Baptichon again until May 3, when he spotted the younger man walking around Flatbush. The man called police, who took Baptichon into custody on robbery and assault charges. *** ROBBED WHILE JOGGING IN PARK: A 32-year-old jogger was robbed of her iPod and cell phone at Prospect Park’s Long Meadow recently, officials said. Police said that the two unidentified suspects grabbed the woman at 8:50 p.m. on April 19, covering her mouth. The victim said that she was then thrown facedown onto the ground. The suspects picked up her property and ran off toward Grand Army Plaza. The woman was not seriously harmed. As they begin to increase patrols in the park, police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call the 78th Precinct at (718) 636-6411. All calls will be kept confidential. *** MURDER SEARCH BEGINS ANEW: With the help of America’s Most Wanted, cops are renewing their hunt for a murderer involved in a shocking Independence Day killing. This past weekend, the picture of Raheem “Radio” Edwards was shown to the nation as investigators continue a multi-jurisdictional search for him. Edwards has been accused of gunning down Daniel Springer, a Canarsie resident, as he and a friend returned home on July 4, 2004. In a horrid case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Edwards shot blindly in Springer’s direction on East 98th Street because he couldn’t find his intended victim. “I didn’t come here for nothing,” witnesses heard Edwards say as he pulled a gun and started blasting in Springer’s direction. Seven shots were fired. Springer was hit in the back as he and his friend ran away and died at the hospital a few hours later, according to police. Edwards fled the jurisdiction, but has since been spotted down south, police said. Detectives also discovered that Edwards is a suspect in another murder, this one in Anaheim, California. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward. A $2,000 reward has been posted for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the one responsible. Calls can be made to either the NYPD Crimestoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. *** ARRESTED FOR ROBBING CORRECTIONS OFFICER: A 16-year-old was arrested for allegedly robbing an off-duty corrections officer as he entered his Bergen Beach home last week. Officials alleged that Jamel Rosa and an accomplice held up their victim the afternoon of May 1 on East 70th Street. Police alleged that Rosa’s accomplice trained a gun on the corrections officer while Rosa demanded his money. The officer handed over his cash, but refused Rosa when the teen allegedly demanded his bank card. Rosa allegedly told his accomplice to “shoot” the victim. Instead of following the orders, the suspect allegedly fled with Rosa in tow. The corrections officer called police, said officials. Cops from the 63rd Precinct tracked down and arrested Rosa a short time later, charging him with robbery. As of this writing, his accomplice remains at large. *** CUNNING CLEANING JOB: Police are looking for three hooligans who robbed an area laundromat at gunpoint last week. Police said that the suspects, described only as dark-skinned males, fled the store with over $700 in receipts following the brazen May 3 robbery. The victim, an employee at the laundry, located at 2948 Avenue R, said that he was about to close at 7 p.m. when one of the three suspects came in, asking how much it would cost to have his jacket cleaned. When the employee quoted a price, the suspect said that he lived nearby and would return in a few minutes with the money. A few minutes later, three men barged in, threw the employee against the wall and put a gun to his head. The suspects grabbed whatever money they could find and ran off, said police, who believe hat the “customer” was a scout for the robbery team. *** COURT CUTTING: A 14-year-old hoops player was attacked during a disagreement on the sidelines of an Avenue U basketball court, officials. The victim said that he was playing with his friends at 9:45 p.m. May 4 when an 18-year-old male approached, demanding to know why the victim had hit his girlfriend with the basketball. During the argument, the suspect threw the victim onto the floor, pulled a knife, and cut him with it, officials said. The teen was not seriously harmed, officials said. *** ROBBED OF DADDY’S CAR: A 23-year-old man said that he was knocked unconscious and car-jacked as he sat in his father’s 2000 Mitsubishi Diamante, enjoying a smoke, police were told last week. Cops are currently looking for the car. The victim claimed that he was at the corner of Avenue R and Coney Island Avenue, taking a drag from his cigarette when a stranger walked up to him and asked for a light. The stranger then slammed his fist into the victim’s face — knocking him out — dragged him out of the Mitsubishi and fled with the vehicle. *** LEFT BURNED: Cops are looking for a thief who broke into an area tanning salon, taking over $1000 in receipts. Police said that someone entered the Hollywood Tans at 1219 Quentin Road sometime after midnight on May 8. The thief entered the business by forcing open a bathroom window. The suspect reportedly removed $1366 from the store and fled, sometime before 2:30 a.m., when the burglary was first reported. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call police at (718) 627-6611. All calls will be kept confidential. *** The parishioners of Our Lady of Refuge church really know how to throw a street fair. On May 30 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the church will celebrate their fifth annual Pig Roast and Street fair on Memorial Day. The parking lot on East 21st Street between Farragut and Foster avenues will be transformed into a grand carnival with games, prizes, clowns, face painting and much more fun for the whole family. Along with roast pig, there will be ethnic foods and beverages on sale. For additional information call the church at 718-434-2090.
