Man Refuses To Become Victimized

A brave South Ozone Park man refused to let himself become a victim — and even helped police to arrest the would-be robber and four others.
At approximately 10 a.m. on Monday, October 1, on 134th Avenue between 133rd and 134th Streets, a male in his 40s was approached by a teen wearing a white T-shirt and black pants and waving a handgun. When the teen demanded money, the man refused, police from the 106th Precinct said.
The suspect then grew aggravated, officials say, hitting the man in the face and on the back of the head with the butt of the gun before becoming alarmed and fleeing the scene. The victim kept his eye on the suspect and saw him enter a nearby home. He then called police.
The 106th Precinct’s Emergency Services Unit (ESU) was dispatched to the residence, which they surrounded and entered. Officers Nicholas Bernard and Victor Fadarangani, of the precinct’s Burglary Apprehension Team, found an AK47, two handguns and a shotgun in the house, and arrested five people, including the suspected mugger, on criminal weapons possession charges. The mugger was also charged with attempted robbery.
After making the arrests, officers obtained a warrant and removed the weapons.
Police have not released the names of the would-be victim or the suspects. The investigation is ongoing.