By Tom Tracy
Deadly fire investigated Investigators are trying to determine what sparked a raging Bensonhurst blaze that killed three day laborers Saturday morning. Officials said that firefighters pulled four people out of the engulfed apartment as they fought back the 7 a.m. fire inside 7421 18th Avenue, which is located above a 99-cent store. The apartment was reportedly shared by eight laborers who were often seen lining up and down 65th Street near 18th Avenue looking for work. Police said that one of the four was removed to Coney Island Hospital, where he died of his injuries. The other three, who all suffered from severe burns and smoke inhalation, were taken to the burn unit at Staten Island University Hospital. According to published reports, one of the three men died on the way to Staten Island. Another died on the operating table. The one who made it was listed in critical condition as this paper went to press. Officials said that at least two others were in the apartment when the fire broke out, but managed to escape before they were overcome by smoke. One of the survivors jumped through a glass window in order to escape and ended up suffering several deep cuts to his face, officials said. It took firefighters about an hour to beat back the blaze. By Monday, investigators said that the victims hailed from Guatemala, but none of them could be identified. It was unclear if they were in the country legally or illegally. Although their identities aren’t clear, parishioners at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 2001 Bay Ridge Parkway, have started a fundraising drive to pay for the deceased to be transported back to Guatemala for burial. As the investigation continues, fire marshals are asking anyone with information regarding what started the blaze to contact authorities at (800) FIRE-TIP. All calls will be kept confidential. CI craziness Two NYPD narcotics cops who investigated drug dealers in Coney Island found themselves on the wrong side of a set of cell block doors after they were accused of showering a confidential informant with money and drugs they took from a drug dealer. Officials said that Sergeant Michael Arenella and Police Officer Jerry Bowens were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, criminal sale of a controlled substance, official misconduct and falsifying business records after being taken into custody Friday. The arrests come after an internal affairs investigation that showed that they had allegedly “given some of a narcotic suspect’s drugs and cash to an informant as a reward.” Officials allege that after one bust, the narcotics cops gave an informant a portion of the drugs they seized and vouchered the rest with the NYPD. Internal Affairs officers set up a sting where the informant told them of a new drug dealer in the area, who was, in fact, an undercover police officer. When they arrested the would-be drug dealer, Arenella and Bowens were allegedly seen taking $40 off of him and giving it to their informant. They also gave some of the drugs they seized to the informant, officials said. Both cops have since been suspended without pay. According to published reports, the arrest of Arenella and Bowens comes as top NYPD brass is “shaking up” narcotics cops operating out of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South. The Daily News reports that the entire midnight to 8 a.m. squad, as well as the commanding officers of Brooklyn South’s Narcotics unit have all been transferred as an investigation into drug stealing and dirty dealing continues. Resistance is futile A 26-year-old Sheepshead Bay man suffered a busted lip last week as he tried to fight off two muggers. The victim said that he was passing the corner of Avenue V and East 26th Street at 7 p.m. on January 17 when one of the two thugs grabbed him by the arm and demanded his money. When the victim resisted, the suspects, who were both wearing face masks, attacked, punching him in the face. The suspects then went through his pockets, fleeing with $60 in cash and his cell phone. Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward. Calls can be made to the 61st Precinct by calling (718) 627-6611. All calls will be kept confidential. Wrong target A Brighton Beach man with an extensive criminal record was arrested last week when he allegedly picked an armed off-duty cop to rob. Officials said that Valery Kluchnikov, a resident of Seacoast Terrace, allegedly pulled a gun on the off-duty cop as he walked through Coney Island before 1 a.m. on January 12. But the cop had his own pistol, which he pulled after taking cover and announcing himself as a police officer. The cop reportedly chased Kluchnikov through Coney Island, but the young man gave him the slip. Responding officers arrested Kluchnikov a short time later after a canvass of the neighborhood. Cops said that the Brighton Beach resident has been arrested 12 times since 2002 on charges of robbery, burglary, grand larceny, criminal mischief and criminal possession of a weapon. Thrice wronged Cops are looking for a heavy-handed thug who punched a 54-year-old woman in the face three times before running off with her purse and cell phone. The woman said that she was angling toward the side entrance of her apartment building on Haring Street near Avenue X just before 9 p.m. on January 15 when the unidentified thief grabbed her from behind. The suspects attacked and ran off with her bag without saying a word, officials said. Despite being punched in the face three times, the woman reported no serious injuries. Thieving by the numbers A free-wheeling Sheepshead Bay thief scored $175 last week when he gave his victim a choice: hand over the money now or wait until his backup arrives. The victim, 16, told police that he was walking past the corner of East 26th Street and Avenue X at 4:30 p.m. on January 11 with his girlfriend when the thief rolled up to them on a bicycle. “Yo, give me your sh** before my friends come,” the man threatened. Fearing that the thief’s comrades were right around the corner, the victim handed over his cash and cell phone. The thief sped off, leaving the victim unharmed. Brutal boyfriend A 40-year-old man was arrested last week for a vicious attack against his estranged girlfriend – an attack that left the woman with a black eye, a smattering of bruises and a possibly broken jaw. The victim, 38, told police that she had just left her East 2nd home near Avenue U to go to the store at 8:15 p.m. on January 18 when her former love attacked, striking her in the face repeatedly with a brick. Cops arrested the boyfriend, who was not named, a short time later, charging him with assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Sticky fingers A thieving “handy woman” is being sought for conning her way into a senior’s Ocean Parkway home and then robbing the place of $500 in cash, officials said. The victim, 81, told police that the unidentified woman rang her door at about noon on January 14, claiming that the senior knew her. After the victim let the stranger inside, the woman said that she “could fix anything in the house” for her. After looking through the house for things for the woman to fix, the senior declined her offer and bid her on her way. But a seemingly innocuous visit turned into a crime when the senior couldn’t find her cash once the stranger had gone. Cops were looking for the thief as this paper went to press.
