Four Slashed In Queens Park Mugging - Two Arrested

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

Four males were slashed with razors inside Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, NYC Park Advocates has learned.  

Four men were sitting on a bench inside the park at 11 p.m. on November 4th, when a group of male Hispanics on bikes approached and began cursing. 

Two assailants got off the bikes and pulled razors.  One slashed a 41-year-old victim in his hand who was on a cell phone causing him to drop the phone.

The attackers picked it up and when the victim's friends protested, the two attackers slashed his three friends as well.

The victims were all male 41 (phone stolen)  28, 28, and 26.

The incident ocured in the park near northeast corner of 49th Avenue and 111th Street  within the convines of the 110 Pct.

Police apprehended the suspects on bikes nearby a few hours later at 2:30 a.m. on November 5th.

A passerby who witnessed the crime ID'd the attackers.

Police charged Dario Rodriguez, 27,  with robbery, assault and marijuana possession.       

He was arraigned on November 5th and is being held on $ 30,000 bail. An order of protection was issued. He did not make bail.  He is due back in court November 10th.

Jonathan Pena,  23,  was charged with robbery and assault.   He was arraigned on November 5th and ordered held on 15,000 bail. An order of protection was also issued. He did not make bail. He is due back in court on November 10th.

Thieves Wearing Masks Rob Couple In Queens Park

Queens

A walk in the park turned into a nightmare for an Asian husband and wife this week when they were mugged in Kissena Park. 

The couple, male, 34, and female, 31 were in the park near 45 Avenue & Colden St. at 8:50pm when they were approached from behind by two assailants black wearing masks. 

One punched the female in the back of the head causing her to fall on the ground.  While she was on the floor one held the husband and twisted his arm behind his back and removed 

$ 50 from the victom's pants pockets.

The perps fled southbound on Colden St. according to police. 

The incident occurred on Tuesday night, November 3rd within the confines of the 109th Pct.   

Both suspects were described as 6'0 tall, 180 pounds wearing black. 

Sgt. Brendan Ryan from DCPI said the investigation is on going and encouraged the public to call the NYPD Tip Hotline (800) 577 - TIPS  if they had any information involving the case.

- Geoffrey Croft

Second Major Outdoor Music Festival Vying For Flushing Meadows Corona Park This Summer

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

News of a second promoter negotiating with the city  to stage a large music festival in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park this summer have emerged. 

Madison Square Garden is seeking permission from the city to put on a major outdoor music festival in Queens on Friday, June 24, through Sunday, June 26, 2016 according to the NY Post.

AEG, the organizers of  the massive Coachella music fesival on the west coast is also petitioning the city to stage a large-scale music event in the park around the same time.

The festival — tentatively called Panorama — is being eyed to be put on two weeks after Governors Ball in June. 

 MSG vies with Coachella backers for Queens music fest

New York Post - November 1, 2015 -  By Claire Atkinson

Producers behind Coachella eyeing Flushing Meadows Corona Park for 2016 music festival

New York Daily News - September 30, 2015 -BY Lisa L. Colangelo, Denis Slattery 

Asian Woman Found "Disemboweled" In Queens Park

Queens

By Geoffrey Croft

An Asian woman, possibly in her 40's, was found disemboweled yesterday by a homeless man in a wooded area in Kissena Corridor Park.   

The woman was found with a slash wound to the neck and abdomen and had blood on her face according to authorities. 

Her intenstins were found exposed.   

A homeless man, 49, had been walking to a nearby church for a free lunch and cut through Kissena Park where he made the startling discovery. He stopped to relieve himself in the bushes  when he spotted the body face up.

No ID was found on the victim.

Police are checking missing person reports and have not ruled out the possibly that she was a smuggling victim. 

A determination has not been made regarding how long the body had been there. 

A 911 call was placed at 2:52 p.m. for a report of an unconscious person in the vicinity of Colden Street and Laburnum Avenue within the confines of the 109 Pct. 

Suspect Arrested For Sexually Assaulting Boys In Bronx Park

Police arrested Greg Boyden, 37, the suspect wanted in a series of sexual assaults on boys in Seton Falls Park since August.  Boyden was transfered from the 47th Pct in the Bronx last night. (Photo: Christopher Sadowski/NY Post) 

Bronx

Police have arrested the suspect wanted in a string of sexual assaults on boys in a Bronx Park.

Police arrested Greg Boyden, a 37 year-old black male who lives on Grace Avenue in the Bronx yesterday after they tracked down a text message he sent to a boy in an effort to have sex in exhange for money.       

On at least three seperate occations between August 8 and October 3rd the suspect lured boys ages 12 - 15 into Seton Falls Park near Baychester Avenue and Crawford Avenue where he sexually assulted them.

He was charged with  Forcible Touching (2 counts)  Act in a Manner Injurious to a Child (3 counts)  Public Lewdness  Unlawful Imprisonment  Sexual Abuse (3 counts). 

During the course of the investigation police discovered a forth incident. On August 1, at 10:00am, the suspect sent a photo of his genitals to the 13 year-old male victim.  He then called the victim and offered him money for sex.   

He was charged with Indecent Material to Minors (2 counts)  Act in a Manner Injurious to a Child  Aggravated Harassment.

Read More:


POLICE ARREST SUSPECT IN EDENWALD PARK LURING CASE
WABC News -  October 9, 2015


Suspect Charged With Luring, Groping Boys In Park In The Bronx
WCBS -  October 9, 2015

Cops bust suspect wanted for sexually assaulting boys in NYC park
New York Post - October 9, 2015 - By Ben Feuerherd 

Man Wanted For Sexually Assaulting Boys In Bronx Park
A Walk In The Park - October 7, 2015 - By Geoffrey Croft 

Man Wanted For Sexually Assaulting Boys In Bronx Park

Police released video of the suspect wanted in several sexual assults of boys in Seton Falls Park.


Bronx

By Geoffrey Croft

Police are searching for a man wanted in a series of sexual assults on boys in a Bronx park.

On at least three seperate occations between August 8 and October 3rd the suspect lured boys ages 12 - 15 into Seton Falls Park near Baychester Avenue and Crawford Avenue where he sexually assulted them.

The NYPD is seeking the public's assistance in locating and identifying the following individual wanted in connection to a forcible touching pattern within the confines of the 47th Precinct.

On Tuesday, August 8, 2015 at approximately 1:15pm a suspect approached the 13 year-old victim as he was walking and offered him money if he could help him carry his bags.  The victim agreed to help him and as they entered the walkway of Seton Falls Park in the vicinity of Baychester Avenue and Crawford Avenue, he grabbed the 13 year-old male victim's buttocks.

On Thursday, September 17, 2015 at approximately 6:45am a suspect approached the 15 year-old male victim while he was walking and offered him money to help him carry his bags. The victim agreed, at which point the suspect led him to an isolated area inside Seton Falls Park where the suspect exposed himself, began to masturbate, and asked the victim to have sex with him. The suspect then proceeded to touch the victim's groin area over his clothing.

On Saturday, October 3, 2015 at approximately 11:25 hours, the 12 year-old victim was walking inside Seton Falls Park when he was approached by a suspect who grabbed him by the arm.  The suspect pulled the victim into a wooded area, where he observed the suspect grab his own waistband.

There were no injuries sustained in any of these incidents. The suspect is described as follows:

Male, black, in his 30's, approximately 5'3", slim build, shaved head, and foreign accent. 

The suspect was seen wearing brown sandals, a blue t-shirt, and black shorts during at least one of the incidents.

Police released video of the suspect (below) 

Anyone with information in regards to these incidents is asked to call Crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).  The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

The NYPD Police released video of the suspect caught from several differant cameras.

Read More:

Police search for suspect in sexual assault of boys in NYC park 

New York Post - October 7, 2015 - By Dana Sauchelli  

Mystery As Dog Is Found Dead In Central Park

The owner holds his dead dog on a park bench at 109th Street and Central Park West last night while being questioned by police. (Photos: via gothamist)

Manhattan

By Geoffrey Croft

The police are investigating the mysterious death of a dog last night in Central Park that the owner believed was shot.

"Duke," a black labrador retriever was found by his sixty-five year owner after he let the dog off the leash and lost sight of him for a short period, according to police.     

The owner said he was walking the dog in the park, at 110th Street near Central Park West, near his apt.  shortly after 10 p.m. last night. 

He continued to walk south on a pedestrian path where he spotted Duke rolling down a grassy hill in convulsions.  The dog had a deep wound on the top of he head and below his right eye. 

He called 911 to reported his "dog had been shot." 

When police arrived they found no evidence of gunfire and no reports of gunshots in the area were reported. The owner admitted he didn't hear a shot and didn't see anyone else in the park and didn't have sight of the dog when he was injured. 

A necropsy is being performed on the dog today and police hope an x-ray will help determine the cause of death.  

Photographer David Torres says the owner was "visibly shaken" and tried to say good-bye to his dog a final time (when the dog was wrapped in plastic), but police led him away, according to gothamist. 



The owner stands over his dog which police wrapped in plastic.