Felonies Still Tumbling In 104 Pct.
Crime keeps on falling around the 104th Precinct, the force’s commanding officer reported during the 104th Precinct Community Council meeting last Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village.
Capt. Christopher Manson stated major felonies are down 9.5 percent year-to-date,buildingona4percent drop reported by the Ridgewoodbased command last year. In particular, he noted, the precinct saw a particularly “substantial reduction” in robberies and burglaries through the first seven weeks of 2014.
Manson told attendees grand larceny was the lone crime category with a year-to-date increase. Many of the cases involve phone scams common throughout the city in which a caller-claiming to be from a utility company-demands immediate payment of an purportedly unpaid bill.
The scammer instructs the victim to purchase a “Green Dot” prepaid debit card from a store for several hundred dollars, then to call back and provide the card’s serial number.
Police advised residents to ignore such demands and to call the utility company directly-using the contact information on their last statement- with any questions regarding outstanding bills.
Turning to quality-of-life problems, Manson noted continued success in the precinct’s ongoing crackdown on underage alcohol sales. Officers conducted undercover stings at 30 bars, restaurants and delis to date, and “more than half” of all proprietors were found to be noncompliant.
Five locations cited previously for illegally selling booze to minors have been referred to the NYPD Nuisance Abatement Program for closure, the commander added.
Recording Secretary Len Santoro, who presided over the meeting in place of absent President Mario Matos, inquired about the recent homicide of a man found fatally stabbed on a Glendale street last month.
As previously reported, 26-yearold Emilliano Llames of Pulaski Street in Brooklyn was found on the morning of Jan. 18 with multiple stab wounds on the sidewalk of Cypress Hills Street near 78th Avenue. He was pronounced dead a short time later at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Manson stated the investigation continues, but evidence suggests the murder did not occur in Glendale.
“It appears the body was dumped there,” he said.
Cops of the Month
Police Officers Paul Bergen and Brian Lesniewski were honored as Cops of the Month for collaring a suspected cell phone thief in Ridgewood last November.
As previously reported in the Times Newsweekly, the officers responded to the robbery on the morning of Nov. 13, 2013 along 67th Avenue near 60th Place.
Law enforcement sources said a woman was pushing her 3-year-old daughter in a stroller when a suspect approached her from behind, grabbed her by the neck and demanded her cell phone. During a struggle, it was noted, the victim’s phone fell to the ground; the bandit grabbed the device and fled on foot.
Officers Bergen and Lesniewski obtained information about the suspect, then began canvassing the surrounding area. Moments later, Manson stated, they located 40-yearold Juan Pavor-who fit the description of the bandit-at the Fresh Pond Road train station.
The victim’s phone was found in Pavor’s pants pocket, it was noted. He was subsequently taken into custody on robbery charges.
Manson presented the officers with plaques donated by the Times Newsweekly for their efforts.
The next 104th Precinct Community Council meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Mar. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. (enter through CNL Center, Door 10). For more information, visit www.104pcc.org or call the 104th Precinct Community Affairs Unit at 1-718-386-2431.
