Mad Man With Machete Collared In Maspeth
Armed with a machete, a sledgehammer and a metal chain, a homeless man described as emotionally disturbed led police on a wild, three-mile foot pursuit along train tracks from Bushwick to Maspeth last Wednesday afternoon, Mar. 13, before he was finally apprehended on the roof of an auto repair garage, police reported.
Police identified the man as 24- year-old Gristobal Vaqueno, undomiciled, whose escapade prompted a massive response by local authorities and forced the lockdown of several schools in the area of the train lines.
A member of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit suffered minor injuries after being struck by Vaqueno with the metal chain as the officer attempted to place him under arrest.
Law enforcement sources said the trouble began at around 2:30 p.m. in Bushwick, when Vaqueno was spotted by MTA Police officers walking on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Bay Ridge branch near Moffat Street.
According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, Vaqueno was allegedly seen holding a metal chain with several metal hooks attached to it.
Various NYPD officers were called to the location and attempted to assist MTA Police in having Vaqueno removed from the tracks, it was reported. Instead of cooperating with police, authorities said, Vaqueno ran northbound on the tracks.
When the officers pursued him, law enforcement sources said, Vaqueno allegedly pulled out a machete and began swinging it in the officers’ direction.
In the course of the pursuit, Vaqueno reportedly also threatened the officers with a sledgehammer in his possession.
Over the next 90 minutes, officers pursued Vaqueno as he ran north on the Bay Ridge branch, then switched over to the CSX rail line at the Fresh Pond Railyard.
Various police units converged in Glendale, Middle Village and Maspeth in an attempt to track and apprehend the suspect, including the 104th and 110th precincts, the NYPD Emergency Services Unit and the NYPD Aviation Unit.
Those participating in the operation included Lt. James Lombardi, 104th Precinct special operations coordinator; Deputy Inspector Ronald Leyson, commanding officer of the 110th Precinct; Capt. Mark Wachter, executive officer of the 114th Precinct and Deputy Inspector Michael Cody, commanding officer of the 115th Precinct. Both Wachter and Cody were former members of the 104th Precinct.
Area schools were reportedly locked down as a precaution while Vaquero was on the loose.
At around 4 p.m., police said, Vaquero arrived in Maspeth and managed to climb up onto the roof of an auto repair shop on Grand Avenue between 74th and 79th streets, adjacent to the CSX line and the Shops at Grand Avenue shopping complex.
Officers with the NYPD Emergency Services Unit climbed onto the roof of the auto repair shop in an attempt to apprehend Vaqueno. According to the criminal complaint provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, Vaqueno allegedly swung the metal chain he was holding and struck one of the officers.
Law enforcement sources said the officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment of lacerations.
Vaqueno was eventually restrained by the officers and taken into custody, with P.O. Louis Marinacci of the 104th Precinct as the arresting officer. He was strapped to a gurney and rushed to a local hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
Prosecutors said Vaqueno was later booked on three counts of criminal possession of a weapon as well as charges of second-degree assault, criminal trespass, menacing, obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.
As of press time Wednesday afternoon, according to court records, Vaqueno remains in custody pending arraignment on the charges.
