By Jeremy Walsh
A Corona man who tried to escape arrest by swimming the East River last month has been tied to a string of ATM thefts in Manhattan as divers recovered four of the electronic machines at the bottom of Flushing Meadows Lake, police said.
Valentin Garcia, 34, was charged with grand larceny, attempted grand larceny and stolen property charges for his alleged involvement in four different incidents in which security cameras captured him smashing into ATMs and tossing them in the back of a van, the Manhattan district attorney’s office said.
In the most recent twist, police scuba divers recovered four ATMs Friday morning they believe are connected to Garcia in the waters of Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Garcia was first arraigned March 27 and held in lieu of $25,000 bail. He was arraigned again May 12 as prosecutors added charges from previous ATM thefts. His next court date was scheduled for May 26. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Garcia was arrested in the Seventh Precinct April 21 after officers spotted him driving a Ford van into an ATM near 23 Rutgers St., according to a criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan DA.
As officers approached the van, Garcia allegedly jumped out, fled on foot and jumped into the East River, the complaint said. When he was retrieved from the river, he denied being in the van or knowing anything about ATMs, the complaint said.
The van had been reported stolen from the 110th Precinct area, which includes Corona and Elmhurst, police said.
After being booked in Manhattan, Garcia allegedly used his phone call to set his financial affairs in order.
According to the criminal complaint, Garcia shouted, “911! Get all the cash out from my mattress!”
Garcia was also wanted in connection with an April 8 incident in which a repossession agent was struck and injured. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan DA’s office, a tow truck driver securing vehicles seized by city marshals in a lot was hit when Garcia jumped into his own seized Infiniti and sped away. Officers recovered the vehicle later while serving a search warrant at Garcia’s apartment, the complaint said.
Reach reporter Jeremy Walsh by e−mail at jewalsh@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 154.
