Four Arrested for Subway Stabbing
Four people were arrested and charged with gang assault for an April 20 stabbing on a train along the Central Park West subway line. The victim, a 21-year-old Brooklyn man, told police he was at the West 72nd Street stop, at Central Park West, when a group of teens surrounded him. He said the group accused him of being involved with one of the attacker’s girlfriend. The victim said he was sucker punched in the head and stabbed in the back with a knife. Jeramy Gil, 19, Antonio Singh, 18, and two female minors, 17 and 15, were arrested for the attack.
Church Member Arrested During Landmark Protest
A member of West Park Presbyterian church’s governing board, Hugo Meneses, was arrested during an April 17 protest against efforts to landmark the West 86th Street building. The protest was just days before a City Council subcommittee held its first hearing on the landmark proposal, which has already gotten support from the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Meneses was collared for attempting to paint “Stop Gale Brewer’s Forced Landmarking” on the sidewalk shed around the church. Police prevented him from finishing the final word. Read more
DRUG BUST AT AMSTERDAM HOUSES
Police arrested 28 people March 16 for selling drugs out of the Amsterdam Houses. The accused dealers peddled marijuana, cocaine, crack and heroin, using five buildings in the complex as a hub for drug trafficking.
The 13-building complex, which stretches from West 61st to 65th streets, is near several schools, including Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Beacon High School and P.S. 191. In fact, law enforcement officials observed high school students being recruited and trained as lookouts and dealers during the nine-month probe into the drug operation. Three high school students were arrested in the drug bust.
The investigation was sparked by tenant complaints about heavy foot traffic in hallways and drug paraphernalia littering stairwells.
Inside Bank Job
A teller was arrested March 11 for stealing from the TD Bank branch at 1995 Broadway and West 68th Street. Police said that Wendy Hernandez, 37, was making fake deposits into customers’ accounts, then withdrawing the money for herself. She is suspecting of engaging in the scheme since October 2009. Hernandez, who was charged with grand larceny, is accused of pocketing $4,200.
Man Violently Robs Ex-Girlfriend
A man was arrested for violently robbing his former girlfriend on Sept. 24 at 6:15 p.m. at her apartment on West 63rd Street near West End Avenue. Police said that Manuel Nina, 24, violated his order of protection when he pushed his girlfriend, 18, onto the stairway as she held her young son. He grabbed his girlfriend by the throat and punched her, demanding her ring, which he tried to pull from her finger. Nina then pushed his girlfriend into their apartment, cops said. He was arrested on Sept. 25 and charged with robbery.
Gym Robber Arrested
A man was arrested after attempting to break in to the New York Sports Club at 248 W. 80th St. and Broadway. Police said that Raymond Bird, 44, tried to enter the gym on Sept. 22 at 4:44 p.m. He was found with a nail file, small screwdriver and white gloves. Bird was charged with burglary. A day earlier, a locker at the gym was broken in to and ransacked. Employees told police that they saw a man, possibly Bird, in sunglasses hanging around the gym.
Teen Arrested for Robbery
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on Aug. 28 when he mugged a fellow teen. Cops said that the victim, a 13-year-old Upper West Sider, was walking with two friends on Broadway when the mugger stopped him near West 80th Street and said, “What’s in the book bag?” He allegedly grabbed the victim by the throat and threw him to the ground. Police said the suspect was picked up later and charged with robbery.
Hair-Raising Arrest
A man was arrested for trying to steal three hair accessories from the Duane Reade at 2025 Broadway and West 70th Street. Police said that on July 16 at 10:15 p.m., Kenneth Wade, 49, tried to remove the hair accessories, worth $78. An employee struggled with Wade. He escaped but was picked up by cops. Wade was charged with robbery.
Slasher Arrested
A man was arrested on June 13 when he slashed someone with a piece of broken glass on the corner of Riverside Drive and West 106th Street. Police said that at 4:30 a.m., Jose Cartagena, 40, threw a glass bottle at a 47-year-old man. Cartagena then picked up a piece of the broken bottle and allegedly stabbed the victim in the right arm. The man ran and Cartagena pursued. He was then picked up by cops and arrested for assault.
W. 71st Arrest
Frederick Zappulla, 51, the roommate of a man who was found stabbed to death last Saturday at 145 W. 71st St., was arrested and charged with murder 2, according to cops.
Police identified the 63-year-old victim as Walter Walker.
Zappulla was Walker’s romantic partner, according to interviews with residents of the West 71st Street building. The two had lived in Walker’s one-bedroom apartment for more than a year. Read more
