Queens
By Geoffrey Croft
A man was slashed by a machete and stabbed several times last night in a Jackson Heights park, NYC Park Advocates has learned, the same park where a teen was brutally attacked in May.
The 21-year-old victim said he was walking through Travers Park when he was approached by three strange men and got into an argument.
One of the men pulled out a machete and slashed the victim in the head, and twice on the left arm and once in the right.
The victim was also stabbed four times in the lower back.
The incident occurred at 8:35 p.m. in the park near 77th Street and Northern Blvd. within the confines of the 115pct.
Police said the victim is in critical but stable condition.
The victim is not cooperating with police at this point and no arrests have been made.
Travers Park is the location of a vicious attack in May where an 18-year-old Hispanic male playing basketball was attacked by 10 men in what police believed to be a gang related.
The victim was stabbed in the back and suffered a collapsed lung, multiple stab wounds, and swelling and bruising to the face. He was also hit with a chain and slashed with a broken bottle above his right eye.
Read More:
18-Year Old Stabbed In Back Playing Basketball By Gang
A Walk In The Park - May 12, 2016 - By Geoffrey Croft
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Monday, August 8, 2016
Violent Crime In Parks Jump 23%
Violent Spaces. Violent crime in city parks has increased twenty-three percent over the last nine months as compared to the previous nine months. This is the first time comparative crime statistics for parks are available over a nine month period. Statistically a violent crime is reported more than once a day in a New York City park.
City-Wide
By Geoffrey Croft
Violent crime in parks have soared over the last nine months according to the latest figures complied by NYPD and analyzed by NYC Park Advocates.
Violent crime increased twenty-three percent compared to the previous time period.
Although overall crime in parks rose 2.97 % during this reporting period violent crimes increased dramatically.
Four hundred and seventeen people reported being the victims of violent crimes in city parks over the last nine months compared to three hundred and forty over the previous period, an increase of twenty-three percent.
Over the last nine months 6 people were murdered, 14 were raped, 254 people were robbed, and 143 were victims of felony assaults.
As a comparison 2 people were raped, 10 were murdered, 221 were robbed, and 107 were victims of felony assaults over the previous nine month period.
Statistically a violent crime was reported 1.14 times a day according to the latest figures available.
The statistics cover an eighteen month period from July 1, 2014 through March 31, 2016, the latest park crime data released by the NYPD.
This is the first time comparative crime stats for parks are available for a nine month period.
The striking figures come from the latest crime data tracked by the NYPD under a 2014 law. The NYPD is now compiling crime data from 1,155 park properties, up from just 31 parks police began tracking in 2008.
The figures do not include Central Park which has its own police precinct.
Park crime for the seven major crime categories jumped twenty-seven percent in the first quarter of 2016 alone - 108 vs. 85 during the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period last year.
Felony assaults during the first quarter 2016 more than doubled and grand larcenies nearly doubled. Violent crime rose seventeen percent, 53 vs. 62 in the 1st quarter to 1st quarter comparison. This data covers the periods January 1st - thru March 31, 2016.
The De Blasio administration has repeatedly sought to downplay crime in parks.
For years park safety advocates have called on the city to dramatically increase the number of park police but they have refused.
Twelve Month Data
Over the last year 9 people were murdered, 328 people were robbed, and 210 were victims of felony assaults.
These statistics cover a twelve month period from July 1, 2015 through March 31, 2016, the latest park crime data released by the NYPD.
Source: NYPD Crime Statistics - CompStat
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/city-council-parks-report-1st-qtr-2016.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/nyc_park_crime_stats_q4_2015.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/nyc_park_crime_stats_q3_2015.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/nyc_park_crime_stats_q2_2015.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/nyc_park_crime_stats_q1_2015.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/nyc_park_crime_stats_q4_2014.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/nyc_park_crime_stats_q3_2014.pdf
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Police Beef Up Patrols In Washington Square Park After "Open-Air Drug Den" Report
A man and two women appear to be smoking crack cocaine out of glass tubes in Washington Square Park. (Photo: Illustration by The New York Post)
Manhattan
The police stepped up patrols in Washington Square Park after a report depicting rampart drug use and homeless condictions was published that called out the police for allowing the "open-air drug den."
On Thursday the New York Post ran a article with photographs of apparent drug use and dealing
in broad daylight in the famed West Village park and called out the police for doing nothing about it.
A Parks Department worker admitted he and his colleagues didn’t like to clean the area because the vagrants openly smoke crack.
The paper said increased police presents began on Friday at 7:00am with a van driving around and two officers on foot were stationed in the northwest corner of the park — the spot where it was reported that about, "20 strung-out vagrants were seen the previous day dealing drugs and urinating on trees."
“It’s looking like the ’80s lately,” said Martinez, 24. “If [cops] are not being told to do anything from higher up, they’re not going to do anything.”
With police watching on Friday, Parks Department workers were able to safely clean up the druggies’ garbage.
The NYPD admitted receiving more complaints about that area of the park and a spokesman promised additional cops will be assigned.
But the junkies were unimpressed.
Two men approached a Post photographer Friday and began cursing in full view of the cops.
“I’ll beat your f–king a– if you take a picture of me,” one of the men said.
As the man continued to scream, the police walked away.
“You shouldn’t be here,” one vagrant told the photographer. “These cops won’t even be able to help you. Some of the guys here are really pissed off. You should leave. I’m just warning you.”
Later, a cop was overheard joking with the vagrants, saying, “I know everybody, I’ve been working here 14 years.”
Andres Vlez, 20, who works in the area, said,
“The hard drugs that are being used is really sad. I just think they need to do more about it. It’s definitely the cops’ responsibility.”
Apparent drug dealers make a transaction in Washington Square Park Thursday, then count their money (below). (Photo: David McGlynn)
Read More:
NYPD Increases Patrols At Washington Square Park To Crack Down On Drug Use
CBS - August 5, 2016 - By Glenn Schuck
POLICE INCREASE PATROLS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK,
30 ARRESTED IN RECENT MONTHS
WABC - August 5, 2016 - By Jim Dolan
Cops finally take on Washington Square Park crackheads
New York Post - August 5, 2016 - By Matthew Allan, Abigail Gepner and Linda Massarella
Crackheads, bums and hookers rule Washington Square Park
New York Post - August 4, 2016 - By Matthew Allan and Bruce Golding
Friday, August 5, 2016
Evidence Search Continues In Death Of Jogger Raped & Strangled In Queens Park Nature Preserve
Police cordon off the area near 161st Ave. and 78th St. in Howard Beach the morning after the body of Karina Vetrano, 30, was found dead in the marshes of Spring Creek Park, less than a half a mile from her father's home. Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates. (Click on images to enlarge)
Victom Karina Vetrano. For decades area residents have complained about the invasive weeds that act as warrens for illegal activity in Spring Creek Park, which the government refused to address. On Tuesday the lack of attention to these basic park maintenance and security issues had deadly consequences.
“We plan to chop down just about every weed in that area until we are satisfied that we got all the evidence.” - NYPD
Queens
By Geoffrey Croft
The search continues for evidence in the horrific murder of Karina Vetrano, the thirty year-old woman found brutally murdered in Spring Creek Park in Howard Beech on Tuesday evening.
Ms. Vetrano went out for a jog around 5:00pm but did not come home.
Her partially nude body was found hours later, near a homeless encampment, face down, her under garment around an ankle. Grass was found clutched in her hand, a result of her being dragged in the struggle.
She had been raped, strangled and beaten to death while out doing what she loved, running outdoors in nature.
The NYPD's Crime Scene Unit vehicle near one of the entrances to Spring Creek Park where Karina Vetrano was found murdured.
After she failed to come home for two hours her father, Philip Vetrano reached out to a neighbor, an NYPD Assistant Chief who made a call to help.
Police launched a massive search to find the missing woman.
Her father who had been aiding the police in the search for his daughter discovered the lifeless body on a foot path.
Since the discovery police have been frantically searching the area for clues.
Earlier today police found a sneaker and a pair of headphones that were missing. The sneaker was found about 100 feet from the body and a pair of headphones was found on the opposite side of the path from the body.
Police believe the items may have been tossed by the killer due to the distance they were found. They say this may also point to a less sophisticated killer.
Authorities are also using technology to aid with the investigation.
A drone was brought in by the FBI from Quantico to help cover the area.
The city had deployed a helicopter with night vision and heat seeking capabilities to scan for any evidence including homeless encampments in the overgrown weeds.
A Leica A 3-D camera scanner has also been deployed to document the vicinity as part of the crime scene reconstruction. Beginning from her home and the street where she lives, the devise is being used try to retrace her movements to the park with pictures.
The investing has not been limited to the park. Police have been combing the neighborhood for witness and leads, going door to door.
So far no evidence has been found of the killer leaving through local streets on foot.
Detectives are examining video from security cameras from nearby homes.
“There is a lot of digital evidence, home video, cameras that point at the street. We are collecting that,” Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said at press briefing on Wednesday morning near the park.
“At 5:46 p.m., she ran past one of the homes there," he said.
Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce addressing the media.
Police believe the killer entered the park area and left the same way but they are unclear that direction that was.
Authorities have been questioning sex offenders in the area.
Federal Park Police from the Gateway National Recreation Area, which has jurisdiction of the park have provided information on several persons issued summonses for vagrancy the park over at least the last six months.
The agency's severe lack of enforcement manpower needed to cover the thousands of acres has also been brought to light, along with the lack of funding for maintenance.
For days heavy mowers have been used to cut the overgrowth in an effort to uncover clues.
“We plan to chop down just about every weed in that area until we are satisfied that we got all the evidence,” Chief Boyce said on Thursday.
For decades area residents have complained about the invasive weeds that act as warrens for illegal activity in Spring Creek Park, as well as in many other park properties owned by both the City and Federal government which they refuse to address.
On Tuesday the lack of attention to these basic park maintenance and security issues had deadly consequences.
Federal Park Police from the Gateway National Recreation Area at the scene on Wednesday.
The wake for Vetrano was held today at the James Romanelli-Stephen Funeral Home in Ozone Park.
She was dressed in a high-neck black dress with her hair pulled back.
The funeral is scheduled for tomorrow at noon at St. Helen Church in Howard Beach — just blocks from where she was killed.
The wake for Vetrano was held today at the James Romanelli-Stephen Funeral Home in Ozone Park.
She was dressed in a high-neck black dress with her hair pulled back.
The funeral is scheduled for tomorrow at noon at St. Helen Church in Howard Beach — just blocks from where she was killed.
The normally quite upscale neighbored in Howard Bech. Photos: Geoffrey Croft/NYC Park Advocates. (Click on images to enlarge)
Read/View More:
New York Post - August 5, 2016 - By Larry Celona, Shawn Cohen and Natalie Musumeci
New York Post - August 6, 2016 - By Jennifer Bain and Laura Italiano
New York Times - August 5, 2016 - By Liz Robbins
New York Times - August 4, 2016 - By Corey Kilgannon and Nate Schweber
A Walk In The Park - August 3, 2016 - By Geoffrey Croft
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Body Of Missing Jogger Found In Queens Park
The body of Karina Vetrano, 30, was found by police late Tuesday evening in the marshes of Spring Creek Park near 161st Ave. and 78th St. in Howard Beach, Queens, less than a half a mile from her home. (Photo via INSTAGRAM)
The jogger was reported missing by her father, a retired FDNY firefighter on Tuesday afternoon after she failed to return home after her run. Police conducted an extensive search of the area and found her body at approximatly 10:50pm last night. Police were still at the scene this morning investigating.
Queens
The police found the body of a missing jogger in the marshes of Spring Creek Park near the Belt Parkway hours after she was reported missing by her father.
Police found her cell phone near a bike path there and discovered her body closer to the shoreline, according to the Daily News.
Neighbors, concerned that Vetrano had met with foul play, said that vagrants live in the woods off the bike path.
“I hear there’s a couple of shanty houses out there," said one neighbor, who identified himself only as John.
Her father, Philip Vetrano, reported her as missing at 5 p.m., police sources said, and later, he was seen walking alongside a NYPD bloodhound and smoking a cigar.
Neighbors said her dad is a retired FDNY firefighter.
Vetrano earned a master’s degree from St. John’s University in 2015, and worked as a caterer at the Vetro Lounge in Howard Beach, her neighbors said.
“She used to go jogging with her father,” said the neighbor, John.
“If the weeds were not that tall, we would of seen the girl jogging on the path ... You can grab that girl, and we wouldn't know it.’ ”
“She had a routine jog,” another neighbor said.
Vetrano’s family declined comment as reporters gathered outside their Howard Beach home late Tuesday.
Read/View More:
Missing jogger, 30, found dead in Queens marsh
WPIX - August 3, 2016 - By Chris Brito and Anthony Dilorenzo
Missing jogger, 30, found dead in marsh near her Queens homeMissing jogger, 30, found dead in Queens marsh
WPIX - August 3, 2016 - By Chris Brito and Anthony Dilorenzo
New York Daily News - August 3, 2016 - By Andy Mai & John Annese
New York Post - August 3, 2016 - By Larry Celona and Joe Marino
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Man Slashed in Face During Attempted Robbery In Jackie Robinson Park
Manhattan
By Geoffrey Croft
A man was slashed in his face last night during an attempted robbery in Jackie Robinson Park, NYC Park Advocates has learned.
The 45-year-old victim was walking to the bathroom in the park while counting money when he was approached by five males and one female who demanded the money.
The victim refused and the assailants punched him several times, knocking him to the ground.
Once on the ground he was slashed on the left side of the face with a knife.
No property was removed.
The victim was taken to Harlem hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The incident occurred last night at 5:30 p.m. in the park near West 152nd Street and Broadhurst Avenue.
Tompkins Square Park Scissor Stabbing - Victim In Critical Condition
Manhattan
By Geoffrey Croft
A 25-year-old male is in critical condition after being stabbed several times with a scissors by a homeless man with a long criminal history, NYC Park Advocates has learned.
The incident occurred yesterday at 2:45 p.m in Tompkins Square Park by the chess tables and homeless encampments near seventh Street on southwest corner of the park.
Emerson Whitmore, 51 and Sarah Wilson, 36, approached the victim inside the park yelling, “where’s my stuff?.”
Whitmore stabbed the victim several times in the chest and back with a pair of scissors.
When he fell to the ground, Wilson kicked the victim several times.
When a 23-year-old good samaritan tried to break up the assault, Whitemore tried to stab her with the scissors.
The assailants fled with eyewitnesses in purist.
Police spotted the chase and joined in and arrested the two.
The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital in critical condition.
Emerson Whitmore was arrested for 3 felony Assault charges, Menacing, and Criminal Possession Of A Weapon.
He has at least 31 prior arrests dating back to 1982.
Sarah Wilson was charged with Assault 2. She has at least six prior arrests.
Whitmore lives at a nearby mens shelter. Sarah Wilson lives at the Isaac T. Hopper House, a woman’s shelter run by Women’s Prison Association.
Last Monday, July 11th, a freelance journalist was attacked while filming a homeless encampment in the park.
Two homeless men punched the 36-year-old victim several times. They tackled him causing him to drop his phone.
They grabbed his phone and broke it.
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