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THE BLOTTER
ISSUE № 0092 — 03-26-26
BY: M.L. Nestel
Illustration by Rob Weiss
The Blotter.* A roundup of happenings in Gotham’s mean streets (and from time to time the tri-state region). Each item provides a staticky glimpse into the sleepless city’s peripheral misdemeanors, felonies, and misadventures.
⬛ MANHATTAN
▀ Midtown: Motorist Caught Stowing Guns In Tuned-Up Car Around Times Square
IT WAS TIMES up for one urban buckaroo.
A 20-year-old driver was pulled over in the Crossroads of the World and found to be packing.
Cops were especially flummoxed by a 2021 black Audi that was rolling along Broadway back at around 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 8.
The ride was breaking the sound barrier with its heavy exhaust. But what really irked the law was the car’s license plate was obstructed by a plastic covering.
Once pulled over in the middle of the popular attraction — the officers spotted a shotgun. They searched closer and found a gun tucked in a driver’s door compartment.
But that piece turned out to be a BB gun.
Either way, the suspect getting popped in such a draw was hit with possession of an imitation pistol (at a sensitive location and unlawful sale/purchase of ammunition.
The consequences of getting caught with a gun within the Times Square vicinity qualifies for the more stringent charge.
▀ Car-Struck Cop Honored With Street Name (New York, NY)
An NYPD Patrolman killed in the line of duty, is finally getting his due, more than a century after making the ultimate sacrifice.
The corner of East 59th Street and Second Avenue, at the foot of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge will be re-named the "Patrolman Rush A. Webster Way" during an unveiling ceremony on July 31.
Webster, 43, a 19 year veteran of the NYPD, assigned to the then 31st Pct (today's 19th Pct which covers Manhattan's the Upper East Side) was struck by a speeding car barreling through the Queensboro Bridge on May 31, 1915. The father of four died 21 days later after succumbing to the injuries.
1915 was the early years of motor vehicle traffic in NYC, where horse drawn carriages and trolleys routinely posed a hazard to pedestrians as well as the motorized automobile.
On April 15, 1915, one month before Patrolman Webster was struck, Police Commissioner Arthur Woods (who led the NYPD until 1918) spoke to rank and file cops at the 9th annual dinner of the Traffic Department of the NYPD at the Waldorf Astoria, where he proudly declared to attendees: "You have already demonstrated your ability to keep traffic moving. If I should be at the heads of his department at the end of another 12 months, I want to be able to say that the number of fatal accidents reported for the first quarter of this year, 163, has been certainly reduced to less than 50.”
⬛ THE BRONX
▀ Co-Op City: Private Cop Make Hay Over Outlaw Downing Booze Outside Candy Store
HIS BREW NEEDED a brown bag. But his loaded gun rap going back 30 years ago required closure.
Private cops who play sentry around Co-Op City cited a man back on Feb. 17 for guzzling an open container outside Cappy’s Candy And Stationary located on Dreiser Loop.
The peace keepers claim the 50-year-old suspect had bigger troubles he was dodging. Specifically, an Oct. 6, 1996 bench warrant for possession of a loaded gun.
He had somehow stayed out of the legal crosshairs for a whopping 29 years.
But it was craving his thirst in public that did him in.
The suspect is now cooling his heels on the gun charge (that carries a seven year prison term and $5,000 fine) at Rikers in lieu of a judge setting his bail at $10,000.
⬛ BROOKLYN
▀ Bushwick: Fare Evader Nabbed With Loaded Revolver
A FREELOADER DREW unwanted attention by skipping out on a subway ride.
On the morning of Feb. 5, transit cops trailed the 41-year-old for skipping out on card swipe at the station.
Officers stopped the hotstepper and once searched they seized a revolver with five rounds in the chambers.
This wasn’t the subway skipper’s first run-in.
Back in 2007, the accused was convicted of holding a bag filled with molly.
The ex-con was nailed for the fresh gun charge, trespass, and theft among others.
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⬛ QUEENS
▀ Sunnyside: Prejudiced Perp Caught Thieving Phone On Subway Ride
SHE WASN’T ARMED, but a woman feigned a gun with her fingers anyway.
The playground mimicry by the 43-year-old suspect was supposed to inflict fear in a rider.
While aboard a Manhattan-bound 7 train back on Feb. 5, the suspect
Donning a green coat and black hat stepped to another woman who was sitting down.
“Go back to your country,” she yawped, while simulating the imaginary gun with her hand.
The perp then reached for the innocent woman’s cell phone.
Both women started tussling — with its owner coming out victorious.
The two parted and the suspect sat down.
But then she arose and went for the phone again; this time snatching it.
The suspect then hurried away when the train stopped at a station.
The victim cleverly snapped a picture of her phone yanker and was able to share it with authorities.
That had the cops on the suspect’s trail and she was ultimately snared. For all the effort to get the device, the winner of losers racked up robbery (as a hate crime,) grand larceny (as a hate crime), and aggravated harassment (based on race/religion).
⬛ STATEN ISLAND
▀ West Brighton: Trio Inflict Pounding On Man At Taco Joint
THREE PUGILISTS LAUNCHED a smackdown on a fellow diner.
The trio, all 22-years-old, were chowing down at Ho’brah Taco on Forest Avenue just after 6:30 p.m. on March 1.
The three started engaging in spicy jibber-jabber with one man — also 22.
One too many “fuck yous” had the three going to town on the loner. They allegedly shoved, punched, kicked, and repeatedly stomped on the victim as he fell to the ground.
They then scattered.
The victim was rushed to Richmond University Medical Center to treat a broken ankle.
He also suffered head and back injuries and several cuts and bruises.
The suspect was nabbed for gang assault, assault, and harassment.
⬛ ‘OL SKULLDUGGERY
▀ Horse Racing Track Safe Cracker Caps 2 Detectives, Draws Standoff with Legion Of Cops (Woodhaven, Queens)
▀ Freed Tobacco Thief Punches Ticket Back To Pen For Cop Kick (Harlem, NY)
▀ Dunces Pick Pres. Wilson’s Daughter’s Home To Steal Watch And Typewriter (New York, NY)
Source: NY Times
⬛ ET. AL
▀ Joyrider (New York, NY)
«SOURCE»
▀ Bombing The System (New York, NY)
«SOURCE»
▀ Skybather (New York, NY)
«SOURCE»
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*When perusing The Blotter, know that arrests do not constitute guilt, and all suspects are innocent until proven guilty. Moreover, the reported items are merely a snapshot of a criminal matter – what is known at the time of publishing. In most cases, the persons arrested for breaking the law haven’t been convicted (yet). It’s also possible that the charges brought against them may be reduced or even withdrawn.
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