‘Career Criminals’ Pinched For R’Wood Robbery
Two men with lengthy criminal records were collared by 104th Precinct officers on Sunday morning, June 24, shortly after they allegedly robbed an 18-year-old woman at a Ridgewood intersection, law enforcement sources said.
Jose Sanchez, 39, of Sutter Avenue in City Line, Brooklyn, and Luis Ortega, 35, of East 165th Street in the Bronx were busted at a Bushwick intersection during a search conducted by Police Officers Mark Bublin and Jason Bianchini, under the direction of Lt. William Brady, moments after the holdup was reported to police.
Both suspects were described by authorities as “career criminals” with prior arrests dating back over a decade for crimes such as robbery, burglary and drug dealing.
Law enforcement sources said the robbery occurred at around 6:10 a.m. Sunday morning at the corner of George Street and Wyckoff Avenue.
Reportedly, the 18-year-old fe- male victim was walking twoard the entrance to the Halsey Street L train station when she was approached by the two suspects.
Police said one of the perpetrators attempted to grab a cell phone she was holding, but the woman resisted. At that moment, the other suspect reportedly demanded her property and claimed to be armed with a gun.
After removing the victim’s pocketbook and assorted property, authorities noted, the two men fled from the scene on foot.
Members of the 104th Precinct re- sponded to the scene. The victim was not injured.
Officers Bublin and Bianchini, at the direction of Lieutenant Brady, were part of a search of the surrounding area for the suspects involved in the caper. During their canvass, the officers entered neighboring Bushwick with the cooperation of the 83rd Precinct.
Law enforcement sources said the two officers spotted Sanchez and Ortega, who fit the description of the men involved in the robbery, at the corner of Wilson Avenue and Hancock Stret and stopped the pair.
During questioning, authorities noted, the property taken from the victim was found in the suspects’ possession. Sanchez and Ortega were taken into custody by Bublin and Bianchini and were charged with first-degree armed robbery, second degree robbery, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
Police sources stated that Sanchez has a criminal record dating back to 1988 on charges including weapons possession, burglary and multiple armed robberies, while Ortega has arrests dating back to 1999 for robbery and narcotics sales, among other charges.
Capt. Michael Cody, commanding officer of the 104th Precinct, praised the efforts of Officers Bublin and Bianchini and Lieutenant Brady for their investigative work.
According to court records, Sanchez and Ortega were each arraigend on Monday, June 25, in Queens Criminal Court before Judge Lenora Gerald. Sanchez was ordered held on $75,000 bail and Ortega’s bail was set at $35,000. The suspects are scheduled to return to court on July 9.
