Throggs Neck News: Slash Attack Worth $5 Mil?

Throggs Neck News: Slash Attack Worth $5 Mil?: Slash Attack Worth $5 Mil? Teen Sues City for Attack in Lehman HS By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 7- The attorney for a...

Slash Attack Worth $5 Mil?

Slash Attack Worth $5 Mil?

Teen Sues City for Attack in Lehman HS

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 7- The attorney for a teenager slashed across the chin during an attack at Herbert H. Lehman High School, was expected to file a notice of claim against the city-- seeking more than $5 million in damages.

Attorney Sanford Rubenstein was expected to file papers in Manhattan on April 7, charging negligence on the part of the City of New York, the Department of Education and the New York City Police Department on behalf of his client and student Stephauan Powell, 16.

According to Rubenstein, Powell was slashed by a fellow student across the chin with a straight-edge razor in a third-floor hallway at the East Tremont Avenue school. The gash needed 20-stitches to close.

After the attack,the attorney claims his client was charged with disorderly conduct.

In the document that would be filed at 1 Centre Street, Rubenstein charges, "As a direct result of the active and passive negligence, carelessness and recklessness... respondents failed to provide enough teachers or school safety agents who could properly monitor and control all of the students."

The document also claims that either school safety agents or teachers were aware of a, "known dangerous condition," but the release does not elaborate on what that condition was.

In a prepared statement, Rubenstein said, "Students go to school to learn, not be attacked in school with a weapon and brutally slashed."

He added, "Justice for Stephauan Powell is important for all students. School's must be made safe for all those who attend."

A verdict in Powell's favor could open the city to a floodgate of lawsuits stemming from dozens of incidents that occur on school property every year. 

The attorney is seeking $5 million for the teen who suffered a 2-inch gash under his jaw as well as $500,000 for Powell's mother Latoya Santiago, 39, for her own pain and suffering.

Calls to Lehman High School Principal Rose LoBianco were not immediately returned.

A call to the Office of Public Safety, a unit of unarmed peace officers who patrol city school's and remain a division under the NYPD-- prompted an immediate, "Sorry, I can't comment," and a hang-up.

An e-mail request to Marge Feinberg, a spokeswoman at the DOE, who was described by another DOE official as one who, "handles those types of cases," who diverted all questions to the NYPD.

An NYPD spokesman stated that records show that Powell was not arrested, but was unable to say if a summons was issued for disorderly conduct.

The spokesman added that the NYPD does not comment on pending litigation. 

Throggs Neck News: Bowling Thieves Caught Doing the ‘Wild Thing’

Throggs Neck News: Bowling Thieves Caught Doing the ‘Wild Thing’: Bowling Thieves Caught Doing the ‘Wild Thing’  By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 7- A pair of robbers are about as sharp ...

Bowling Thieves Caught Doing the ‘Wild Thing’

Bowling Thieves Caught Doing the ‘Wild Thing’ 

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 7- A pair of robbers are about as sharp as as bowling ball when they were caught on tape robbing a bowling alley with distinctive clothing.

At around 4:50 a.m. on April 4, the pair cut a hole in the roof and entered the bowling alley 2417 Hollers Avenue outside Co-op City. Surveillance cameras caught the master criminals in action as they took money from the six cash registers in the bowling alley. 

Cops are hoping the criminals’ distinctive clothing will help them catch the thieves. Video surveillance shows one of the men wearing a shirt with designs and the word “Taylor” written on it. The second suspect is seen wearing a shirt with the words “Wild Thing” written on it. Both men are between the ages of 30 and 40. 

Anyone with information is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577. 

All calls are confidential. 

Throggs Neck News: Cops, DA Close Bronx Zoo Gun Shop

Throggs Neck News: Cops, DA Close Bronx Zoo Gun Shop: Cops, DA Close Bronx Zoo Gun Shop BRONX, YORK,  APRIL 4- Gun dealers, who set up shop near the entrance to the Bronx Zoo, were indic...

Throggs Neck News: Cops, DA Close Bronx Zoo Gun Shop

Throggs Neck News: Cops, DA Close Bronx Zoo Gun Shop: Cops, DA Close Bronx Zoo Gun Shop BRONX, YORK,  APRIL 4- Gun dealers, who set up shop near the entrance to the Bronx Zoo, were indic...

Cops, DA Close Bronx Zoo Gun Shop

Cops, DA Close Bronx Zoo Gun Shop

BRONX, YORK,  APRIL 4- Gun dealers, who set up shop near the entrance to the Bronx Zoo, were indicted on weapons charges stemming from sales to undercover cops.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., and New York City Police Department Commissioner William J. Bratton announced the indictments of Javon Burgess, a/k/a “Black,” 36, and Paul Lee, a/k/a “Gangsta,” 24, for selling 39 illegal guns, ammunition, and large capacity magazines to undercover police detectives posing as Manhattan-based gun dealers. Burgess is charged with multiple counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the first, second, and third Degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees, and conspiracy in the fourth degree. Lee is charged with multiple counts of criminal sale of a firearm in the first and third degrees, criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees, and conspiracy in the fourth degree.

“Gun violence continues to be a serious problem for our city’s teens – kids are buying guns, kids are using guns, and kids are dying from guns,” said District Attorney Vance. “Just two days ago, my office secured a conviction against Robert Cartagena for fatally shooting Tayshana ‘Chicken’ Murphy, an 18-year-old star of her high school basketball team. Any crime prevention effort has to include stopping gun traffickers from giving young people easy access to dangerous weapons. My office’s increased focus on fighting gun violence, as well the excellent work of the NYPD, has allowed us to bring far more gun trafficking cases in recent years. Since the creation of the Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit of the DA’s Office in 2010, our prosecutors have secured 25 convictions for criminal sale of a firearm in the fFirst or second degree. This is an increase from two convictions on these charges during the previous four-year period – a increase of 1,150 percent.”

Police Commissioner William J. Bratton said: “These indictments underscore the proliferation of illegal firearms that stretch from the south to our city, thus creating the ‘Iron Pipeline’ and the community gun tactic used by criminals. Today’s cases are indicative of how criminals traffic firearms that are eventually used against young children, members of law enforcement and the community. Stopping gun violence and the illegal distribution of firearms is a focal point that will require continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners to bring criminals like these to justice. I would like to thank the NYPD Firearm’s Investigations Unit and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their relentless efforts in this investigation.”

According to the indictment, from approximately February 2013 to September 2013, Burgess sold 26 operable guns, as well as ammunition and large capacity magazines, to an undercover police detective. The firearms, which he sold for approximately $1,000 per weapon, included a Tec-9 assault weapon and other semi-automatic pistols. Burgess is accused of selling many of these weapons in broad daylight, with five of the sales taking place near the entrance of the Bronx Zoo. The defendant obtained these guns in South Carolina, and requested that the undercover detective send payment to him in South Carolina for one of the sales through a Western Union money transfer.

In a separate case, according to the indictment, from approximately May 2013 to December 2013, Lee sold 13 operable guns to another undercover police detective. The weapons, which he sold for $550 to $900 per gun, included a sawed-off shotgun and an AP-9 assault weapon. Lee sold the weapons to the undercover detective either in East Harlem or near Co-op City in the Bronx, with some of the sales occurring in broad daylight.

The investigations were conducted jointly by the Manhattan DA’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Unit (VCEU) and the NYPD’s Firearms Investigation Unit. Since its formation in 2010, the VCEU has brought 19 indictments against 57 gun traffickers and recovered more than 875 illegal guns.