By Tom Tracy
Teen nabbed for murder A Coney Island teen has been arrested in the murder of another teen during a spat on West 31st Street. Officials said that Nathaniel Merchan, a resident of West 30th Street, was charged with murder in the second degree for allegedly driving a knife into 16-year-old Terrance McMillan early Thursday morning. Cops from the 60th Precinct said that McMillan was found sprawled out in the fourth-floor hallway of 2929 West 31st Street – where he lives – just after midnight on January 24. He had been stabbed multiple times. He was rushed to Coney Island Hospital, where he died of his injuries. The next day, detectives from the 60th Precinct arrested Merchan for the killing, although they didn’t disclose what led to the attack. NYPD bogus Cops in Bensonhurst are looking for man who robbed an area man after claiming that he was a police officer. The victim said that he was passing the corner of 85th Street and 17th Avenue at 11:45 p.m. on January 21 when a white male in a dark-colored car rolled up. The car pulled over right in front of the victim. The person inside, described to police as a white male in his forties, got out and identified himself as a police officer before “frisking” the victim and taking his wallet. The victim stormed off. The so-called cop jumped back into his car and followed him for several feet, ordering him into his car. When the victim refused, the thief took the money out of his wallet and threw it to the ground before speeding off. The victim said that during the entire altercation, the thief never once displayed a police shield. Cops were looking for the assailant as this paper went to press. Fusion fury A 29-year-old woman will never forget the night she went to Fusion on Emmons Avenue near Ocean Avenue. After all, that was the night she was attacked by two women and suffered a head injury that needed stitches to close as a result, police said. Police were told that the victim was at the bar inside the night spot at 4 a.m. on January 21 when another woman allegedly pushed her. The victim then went to the bathroom, only to be followed in by the one who had just pushed her and another woman, police alleged. Both assailants locked the bathroom door and punched and struck their victim with one of their high-heeled shoes, officials alleged. Employees had to break down the door to end the fight. Police said that the woman was taken to Coney Island Hospital for treatment. The two alleged assailants fled the bar, but one of the women, identified as Leslie Arrindell, 29, was tracked down and arrested on January 24, charged with assault and petit larceny. The second woman was reportedly still at large as this paper went to press. More Emmons injuries Cops were called to Roll N Roaster, 2901 Emmons Avenue, last week after two men ganged up on a patron, officials said. Police from the 61st Precinct said that the two suspects, 20-year-old Elek Santa and 23-year-old Donovan William, were both charged with assault following the alleged attack, which took place at 8:18 p.m. on January 23. Witnesses said that the victim was inside the popular neighborhood eatery when he became embroiled in an argument with the two men. Officials alleged that one of the men punched the victim while the other cracked a bottle over his head. No serious injuries were reported. Samaritans to the rescue Two neighbors were instrumental in separating an unhinged 25-year-old from his ex-girlfriend during a clash inside the woman’s apartment on 21st Avenue near 87th Street. Police from the 62nd Precinct said that they took the 25-year-old into custody just after midnight on January 24 after he came to his ex-girlfriend’s door, hoping that he could stay over for the night. When his former love, 26, said no, the man forced open the door and ripped the phone off the wall, police were told. Her screams alerted the two witnesses, who ran in and grabbed the 25-year-old before he could hurt her any further. The two said that as they tried to subdue the 25-year-old, who police did not name, he threatened to kill his former girlfriend and her new boyfriend. Paper trail pilfer Cops are investigating a woman’s claims that she was taken for $35 when a would-be flim-flam artists claiming to be from a borough utility came in to do a bogus inspection – an inspection which allegedly came with a receipt for service. The woman, 41, told police that she was in her home on 85th Street near 24th Avenue at 2 p.m. on January 23 when someone called her, claiming to be from Brooklyn Union maintenance. The person on the phone said that she was sending over a water inspector. A short time later, a 30-year-old male showed up, claiming to be the inspector. After what the woman believed to be a fake inspection, the man turned to her and demanded $35. When she gave him the money, he fired off a receipt and left. Cops were trying to track down the would-be inspector as this paper went to press. Office sneak A 47-year-old Sheepshead Bay man was arrested last week after he was allegedly caught rifling through an office to a neighborhood 7-11, trying to steal a set of phone cards, officials said. A worker at the 7-11, located at 3678 Nostrand Avenue, told police that he entered the office at 6 p.m. on January 25 and found alleged thief Michael Taylor inside. The discovery came as a shock to the worker, since no one but employees were supposed to be inside the office. When the employee tried to drag Taylor out of the office, the 47-year-old allegedly fought him off as he scrambled to grab hold of some phone cards. Responding officers charged Taylor with robbery. Spirited away A Bensonhurst woman told police that a devil made off with her purse as she attended a weekly prayer meeting at St. Athanasius at the corner of Bay Parkway and 61st Street. The woman told police that she had placed her handbag in a closet inside the house of worship at 7:30 p.m. on January 22. She returned about a half hour later to discover that the bag, as well as the $200 in cash and credit cards inside was missing. Cops were investigating the woman’s claims as this paper went to press. Robbed at knifepoint A 17-year-old Mill Basin teen was robbed at knifepoint as he walked through Sheepshead Bay last week, officials said. Police were told that the victim was passing the corner of East 24th Street and Gravesend Neck Road at about 10 p.m. on January 22 when he was confronted by two males armed with knives. The thieves told the victim to empty his pockets before punching him in the face and running off with his iPod. No serious injuries were reported by the teen, a resident of East 59th Street. Cops are asking anyone with information about this robbery to come forward. Calls can be made to the 61st Precinct at (718) 627-6611. All calls will be kept confidential. Lights out A 19-year-old man was popped in the face and robbed of $20 when he stopped to help a stranger light his cigarette, officials said. The victim said that he was walking past Bay Ridge Parkway near 14th Avenue at 10:40 p.m. January 24 when a 20-year-old white male walked up to him. “Do you have a light?” the man asked. Before the victim could respond, the suspect punched the victim in the eye, robbed him of his cash and ran off. Bear troubles Cops are looking for a touchy-feely thug who grappled a 68-year-old woman in a bear hug before robbing her of her wallet. The woman told police that she was walking down West 11th Street near Avenue S in Gravesend when the thief, believed to be a 13-year-old black male, grabbed hold of her. As he trapped her arms in his hug, the thief managed to reach into her pocketbook and remove her wallet before throwing her to the ground and escaping, officials said. The wallet contained about $30. No serious injuries were reported. Cavallaro caper Thieves broke into Joseph Cavallaro Junior High School, 8787 24th Avenue, last week, taking thousands of dollars in laptop computers and other equipment. Officials determined that 33 laptop computers as well as two LCD projectors were removed from seven classrooms on the night of January 20. Thieves broke in by shattering window panes that led into the classrooms, officials said. 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. 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.
