News: NYPD Officer Wounded in Gun Blaze

(Long Island, N.Y.) A forty-four-year-old NYPD officer was wounded Wednesday night after an altercation with a gunman in South Jamaica, Queens. The incident occurred after the officer and his partner stopped the man for suspicious activity on a bicycle. The suspect is still at large and considered to be armed and dangerous.

The officer is one of ten NYPD policemen wounded from gun violence in the past year alone-a figure that has gotten greater than those of the previous four combined. According to reports, ten people were wounded from six separate gang-related incidents during the previous day. There has been roughly a ten percent increase in New York City shooting victims.

Some blame the economy for the rising crime rate, saying the incident that occurred just before eleven Wednesday evening is a reflection of the city’s financial state. The fifteen-year-veteran officer suffered an injury to both legs, allegedly coming from a single bullet that remained lodged after the shooting. A Hicksville resident, he was a sergeant at the South Gang Squad and is expected to make a full recovery.

Police released a photo of the suspect, a man who is said to be between 5’11” and 6’4″. He was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, sporting long braided hair, standing roughly 180lbs. Sources stated that he has an arrest record and is between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-four.

A man initially believed to be a suspect arrived at a hospital with a graze wound to the head but was later cleared of suspicion. The officer remained at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center as of Thursday night, but was up and walking in good spirits. His father, a retired NYPD Detective from Yonkers, was shot over forty years ago after a hold up in Times Square. He was struck in the left cheek at the age of twenty-seven.

A news conference was held Thursday morning at the hospital with the mayor, police commissioner, and district attorney. It was said that the officer and his partner, both ununiformed in an unmarked patrol vehicle, approached the man on the bike. The incident occurred on 107th Avenue and caused the gunman to flee before abandoning his bicycle. He allegedly climbed a fence next to an alley and landed on top of a white van parked in a nearby lot. The officer was shot while attempting to block his escape.

A witness stated that nine shots were fired in total before the suspect attempted, unsuccessfully, to flee via cab. Some reports claimed that six shots belonged to the officer. One round was found in the window of an adjacent church. A .9mm Ruger semi-automatic pistol was found at the scene with bullets inside the magazine and one in the chamber.

The gunshots were heard by a group of first-year officers, members of the Queens South Impact Response Team. A certified EMT attended the wounded officer while the team brought him to the hospital. The first-years deal with high-crime areas. Anonymous tips concerning any information in the case could result in a $10-22k cash reward.

News: NYPD Officer Accused of Raping Ex

(Long Island, N.Y.) A twenty-eight-year-old NYPD officer was arraigned Thursday afternoon after being charged with rape, menacing, and assault. The officer was expected to be arraigned at roughly 2pm and may have posted bond to be released later that day. Further details in the case are expected to emerge in the days to follow.

What authorities know now is that the police officer had put in six years with the force, beginning in 2006. He was off-duty at the time of the incident, but had worked in the 78th Precinct of Park Slope, Brooklyn. His current yearly salary is between 50k and 60k.

The incident was said to have occurred Tuesday night at roughly 11pm on Father Capodanno Blvd in Staten Island. Though the officer worked in Brooklyn, he resides in Staten Island. He was arrested Wednesday night at 8pm.

According to reports, the rape was said to have occurred in a car parked in a lot. The victim was held at gunpoint and was believed to be a woman the police officer had formerly dated. No further details about the victim were given at this time.

The officer had been immediately suspended without pay. He was arraigned at the Staten Island Criminal Courthouse in Stapleton. Perhaps the question on the minds of many is what kind of evidence has caused for such a speedy response from authorities towards one of their own.

The mother of the police officer maintains his innocence. When asked, the police officer’s aunt claimed that the allegations were out of character for the twenty-eight-year-old. She also claimed that he’s never had a problem in his life.

Last year another twenty-eight-year-old NYPD officer admitted to raping a school teacher in a Manhattan apartment courtyard. He was sentenced to a term of seventy-five-to-life.

Also last year, the trial for two New York City police officers was conducted for the alleged rape of an East Village fashion executive inside her home. The officers were on-duty and had escorted her from a taxi. They were acquitted of all rape charges and were facing just a year in prison for misconduct.

News: Recent News for Gilgo Beach Investigation

(Long Island, N.Y.) The Long Island Serial Killer is still getting press over a year since the discoveries of four bodies found in burlap along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach and Oak Beach. With the busy season reaching its peak, Long Island has become the destination for many tourists and visitors over the summer. Amidst the sun and fun, plenty are still wondering what is to become of the ongoing investigation and uncaught killer.

It was reported during the past week that the family of Shannan Gilbert, the twenty-three-year-old New Jersey woman who sparked the initial search, has yet to receive her remains. Family members had to wait from May of 2010 to December of 2011 before finding out what became of Gilbert. Now it seems they have to hold out longer until she is brought home.

In addition to not receiving Gilbert’s remains, the family has yet to get their hands on the death certificate. According to sources, the medical examination produced inconclusive results in determining Gilbert’s cause of death. Initially, upon the discovery of her remains, authorities on the case suggested that she may have drowned.

It was also reported that the family has requested Gilbert’s remains after hiring an expert to conduct their own tests. It has been clear since the start of the investigation that family members of the victims have expressed distrust towards authorities. It began with the missing women, and the lack of concern they gathered from those alerted immediately following the disappearances.

Also in recent news was a play depicting aspects of the investigation. Family members and friends of the victims were offended by the play’s portrayal of those involved and lack of sensitivity toward the delicate nature of the case. A similar reaction from grieving loved ones occurred upon the release of a popular YouTube music video entitled “Ocean Parkway.”

The home where Gilbert was last seen running from in the remote darkness of the Oak Beach gated community has been put up for sale. The price is down to $375,000 after having first been listed at $439,000 in March of last year. Annual property taxes for the home are near $16,000.

The owner of the home claimed to have never paid Gilbert on the night of her disappearance. He also claimed that he wasn’t involved in any type of sexual relations with her. Though he was investigated, authorities on the case claimed to have ruled him out as a suspect.

News: Woman Found Deceased in Oyster Bay Cove

(Long Island, N.Y.) The body of a woman was found in a remote, private cove in Oyster Bay near the corner of Cove Neck Road and Gracewood Court. According to reports, the discovery was made on Thursday and the woman is still unidentified. She was retrieved fully clothed not far from the Theodore Roosevelt Sagamore Hill National Historic Site.

Sources claimed that three men, a paddleboard shop owner and his customers, encountered the body between noon and one o’clock. The body had been floating face down approximately thirty feet offshore. It was stated that the body was initially thought to be a drifting life vest.

Most of the information has been taken from a statement made by the Nassau County Homicide Squad commanding officer. The woman is believed to have been Caucasian and in her forties. According to reports, there were no apparent signs of injury or struggle.

She was found wearing a blue and red stripped T-shirt, capri denim pants, and no shoes. Upon the discovery, the paddleboard shop owner allegedly flagged down a vehicle on a nearby roadway in attempt to contact emergency services. The customers stayed with the body until emergency personnel arrived.

She was found wearing a blue and red stripped T-shirt, capri denim pants, and no shoes. Upon the discovery, the paddleboard shop owner allegedly flagged down a vehicle on a nearby roadway in attempt to contact emergency services. The customers stayed with the body until emergency personnel arrived.

The beach was restricted for hours during police investigation. Authorities have made it clear that it’s possible that the woman drowned. The same was said in December of last year when the body of twenty-three-year-old Shannon Gilbert was discovered near Oak Beach and Ocean Parkway.

On December 6th of last year, roughly eighteen months since Gilbert first went missing, her jeans, shoes, cell phone, pocketbook, and ID were retrieved near a doctor’s house. The house is located in the area Gilbert was last seen, three miles from a serial killer’s dumping ground, and the doctor was known to have contacted her family. The remains of Gilbert were positively identified on December 17th a quarter-mile away from the items, a hundred yards from Ocean Parkway.

Gilbert had made a panicked twenty-three minute phone call to 911 three hours after she arrived with her driver to meet the man she solicited. She was chased by her driver in a black SUV and claimed to emergency responders that “they” were going to kill her. Police said that her case did not fit the serial killer pattern and that the driver, doctor, and john had participated in the investigation and have been ruled out as suspects.

Though her body and belongs were found separately, authorities have suggested that she may have disregarded her items and that her jeans came off from running. Her driver claimed to have waited an hour, looking for Gilbert before leaving. Gilbert had fled to a neighbor’s home for help while she was on the phone with emergency services; that neighbor is the only one involved who had also called police.

News: Police Cleared of Charges in Fatal Shooting of 23 Year Old

(Long Island, N.Y.) A Nassau County cop was cleared of criminal charges after an investigation conducted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s office. The investigation was held to take a closer look into the fatal shooting of twenty-three-year-old Kurt Doerbecker at his home in Point Lookout. There is much speculation about the whether Doerbecker was killed after excessive force was used in responding to a situation that occurred last summer, right after the Hurricane Irene fiasco.

What is known about the case is that police came by the dozens to the Doerbecker home after the twenty-three-year-old was implemented in a bar fight and accusations of a home invasion. No one was injured and nothing was reported stolen. Doerbecker was also accused of carrying a small metal object, but it still has not been determined what that object was.

Doerbecker and his family were inside the home and refused to speak to police without having a warrant. While it is mentioned in the twenty-eight-page police report that an option was to return to other duties before a warrant was obtained, police with K-9 units remained outside the perimeter of the home. Doerbecker was five-feet-eight-inches, played baseball, and graduated Long Beach High School with the class of 2006.

After numerous instances of denying the police entry and the opportunity to speak, Doerbecker exited the home via the back window. The Doerbecker backyard is in direct access to the water, making it impossible to run anywhere without being forced to swim. Police were waiting for Doerbecker while stationed outside in the back, anticipating his attempt at an exit through the window.

According to the police report, the lighting was minimal and all of the detectives described the area as very dark. Unable to see in such a closely confined space, it’s possible that Doerbecker was unaware of the exact location of police presence. A Nassau County policeman fired shots, interpreting Doerbecker’s movements as a hostile act.

It was reported that, prior to the shots, police had told Doerbecker to stop and drop his weapon. According to the police report, Doerbecker had been carrying a knife, which was initially documented as a light-reflecting object. The fatal shot that ended the twenty-three-year-old’s life was to the back of the head at roughly one-thirty in the morning; three shots were fired in total from the same weapon.

Despite Doerbecker’s obvious condition, the police report stated that he wasn’t tended to until police secured the house for civilian and officer safety. He wasn’t pronounced dead until a quarter-to-three that morning. According to reports, his parents were physically taken into custody in separate patrol cars and unaware of their son’s passing until five-thirty.

News: Three Kids Killed in Boat Capsizing

(Long Island, N.Y.) Tragedy struck during Fourth of July celebrations when a boat full of children capsized in waters off Lloyd Neck. The twenty-seven passengers had been returning from a firework show near Cove Neck Shore. The boat, which was operated by two people, was a thirty-four-foot 1984 Silverton Cabin Cruiser.

Many have reported that, based on the boat’s size, overcrowding may have been a factor in the tragic outcome. It has also been suspected that the boat had been hit from the wake of another vessel before it capsized. The incident occurred roughly ten minutes after ten on the July 4th evening.

The emergency call made to officials reported that people were trying to swim to shore amidst waters of over twenty-foot depth. The boat later drifted almost a mile before sinking in waters that were between sixty and seventy feet deep. Among the deceased were two girls and a boy, ages twelve, eleven, and eight.

Divers who responded to the call discovered the children inside the sunken cabin. Roughly two dozen friends and family members were treated and released after being rescued by boaters and emergency staff in the vicinity. According to reports, most of the boat’s occupants were children and young teens.

One of the deceased was found in critical condition and taken to Syosset Hospital. The aunt of cousins killed in the tragedy claimed to have tried to pull them out. All three were pronounced dead at roughly four in the morning.

The United States Coast Guard and Nassau County Police are investigating the incident and are still trying to retrieve the boat to gather evidence. Though it was reported that rain occurred after the boat capsized, another factor involved in the tragedy could have been the stormy weather. Officials can also speculate about possible mechanical and equipment failures.

Investigators are examining the number of life vests aboard the vessel. According to New York State Boating Laws, life vests must be provided for every passenger aboard. Children under twelve years of age must be wearing a life vest if they are not inside an enclosed cabin.

News: Another Long Island Pharmacy Targeted

(Long Island, N.Y.) Outside the pharmacy where four people were shot and killed during the Medford tragedy a hand written sign was posted expressing hatred for the suspects responsible. Reports stated that the sign was removed because the area had been designated for mourning. In a separate incident, a CVS Pharmacy was robbed on Horseblock Road in Farmingville just a week after the Medford shooting.

Sunday’s incident occurred fifteen minutes past noon and involved a note demanding prescription drugs and cash. The suspect handed the written threat to the pharmacy employee before fleeing on foot. The suspect had previously asked about the availability of a certain prescription substance. Both the suspect and the item remain unidentified.

The incident is being examined by members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Sixth Squad Detectives and investigators are looking into all possible leads. Reports stated that the suspect had left the store after interacting with the employees and had returned shortly after. The disgruntled pharmacy workers complied with the suspect’s request after reading the threat. According to sources, CVS Pharmacy has a policy of automatic compliance with any demands made by a potential robber.

Similar to the suspect in the Medford shooting, the man responsible for Sunday’s robbery is Caucasian with a thin build. The man is believed to be in his early twenties and is an estimated five-feet-and-eight-inches tall. He was seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with a white and red baseball hat and dark colored pants. Police involved in the case are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers and urge the public to keep in mind that all tips will remain anonymous.

The CVS Pharmacy is located next to a TD bank which was robbed last week in a separate incident. It is also located across from a Stop and Shop and not far from North Ocean Ave. The aspects of the crime and the similar circumstances in the recent string of pharmacy thefts have led many followers of the case to question the need of heightened security. Many suggest that pharmacies need the security measures applied to banks and other public facilities.

Reports stated that the thirty-three-year-old suspect in the Medford shooting has been implicated in the crime by a fingerprint match. According to reports, the suspect’s fingerprint was found on a piece of paper that was attached to the pharmacy’s counter and allegedly advised to not be on cellphones in the area. The suspect’s lawyer has claimed that he had visited the pharmacy frequently, prior to the shooting, suggesting that the discovery could have been a result of a separate visit to Haven Drugs. The defense claimed that fingerprints last forever unless they are wiped away and that the surveillance video depicted a man who looks nothing like the suspect.

This is the first time arrest for the thirty-three-year-old suspect, and his defense attorney has stated that he is scared and overwhelmed. Reports claimed that he has been put on a suicide watch and that a complete scope of information in the case has not been given to the defense. The suspect’s twenty-nine-year- old wife has not been indicted but her next court date is scheduled for July 15.

This incident has gotten many Long Islanders considering other notable crimes throughout the years. Some have claimed that the last massive shooting occurred in 1993 when six people were killed on the Long Island Rail Road.

News: Teen Killed on Long Island Expressway

(Long Island, N.Y.) An eighteen-year-old from Blue Point was killed Wednesday evening after his car stopped on the Long Island Expressway. The incident occurred near Exit 59 after the teen was unable to move the vehicle in the westbound HOV lane. He was fatally struck by a Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle.

The eighteen-year-old was a recent graduate of Bayport-Blue Point High School and was allegedly headed to a night class at Suffolk Community College. Prior to the incident, he had called his mother to report that he had been in an accident. According to reports, a driver had hit his 2011 Mazda and fled the scene.

He also informed his mother that he was scared and she instructed him to remain in the vehicle while calling emergency services. Sources claimed that the teen put on his hazard lights and was standing outside the vehicle when he was struck by the patrol car. His mother arrived at the scene just minutes too late.

The deputy driving the patrol vehicle was blinded by the glare and attempted to swerve onto a left marked shoulder to avoid the crash. The thirty-seven-year-old suffered no serious injury and had been a deputy since 2007. According to reports, he had been on highway enforcement for the last four years.

The teen had been airlifted to Stony Brook University Medical Center after receiving CPR. He was pronounced dead and officials closed the road past eleven that evening. The District Attorney and state police are investigating the case, and some reports stated that roads had been closed into the following afternoon.

In the wake of the crash the eighteen-year-old has been mourned by friends and family members. Some claim that the deputy had been driving irresponsibly prior to the incident. Others have stated that they have not received the answers they have been looking for, after being told it could take weeks to complete a standard investigation.

The young man was remembered as an aspiring clothing designer who made everyone laugh. Sources claimed that his best friend and cousin were among those interviewed during the time of grieving.

News: Woman Accused in NYC Prostitution Ring

(Long Island, N.Y.) A forty-four-year-old mother of four has been arrested for promoting prostitution. She pleaded not guilty to the charges after the February 22nd arrest. The former real estate broker and current animal activist resided in a twelve acre home in Monroe, located about fifty miles north of New York City.

The residence in question is located at East 78th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan and is allegedly owned by a lawyer implemented in the case. According to reports, neighbors have claimed to witness Lincoln town cars driving through the area during all hours of the night. The forty-four-year-old Scottish immigrant has been married for a decade and was described as a suburban soccer mom.

Nonetheless, she is being accused of working as a “Millionaire Madam” with high-profile, high-society clients from all over the world. Prosecutors have allegedly requested her list of clients which is said to include men in politics, investing, real estate, law enforcement, and the FBI. Sources claimed that on the day of her arrest she was meeting with a financial advisor from Morgan Stanley who has gone on a paid leave since the allegations.

According to reports, the woman was not giving up her clients in an interview from Rikers Island. She referred to some of the high-profile men as business associates and personal friends. She is being held on a two million dollar bond.

Sources claimed that the woman’s defense team explained the allegations as what was supposed to be the makings of a legitimate matching service. The service was designed to attract wealthy men and women to an online dating site. Other reports stated that she was allegedly building a site set to rival the popular match.com. The woman described her co-defendant in the case as a professional matchmaker.

On the flip side, the prosecution has allegedly accused the woman of using minors in her prostitution ring. It was claimed that over fifty hours of surveillance from undercover work has been gathered as evidence against her. She is also being accused of setting aside money in order to flee. Her next court appearance is set for May 3rd, and she faces up to seven years in prison.

News: Suspected Burglar Goes to Court

(Long Island, N.Y.) A twenty-year-old man suspected of stealing an approximate $11k worth of electronic equipment has appeared in court today. According to reports, he has played a critical part in the alleged conspiracy that existed between his father and three high-ranking Nassau County Policemen. The police officials were said to have accepted meals, gifts, and hefty donations in exchange for covering up the burglary charges.

The policemen include a second-deputy commissioner, deputy chief of patrol, and former commander of the Seventh Precinct Squad. The Nassau County District Attorney has accused the officials, who have been indicted for misconduct, of erasing the charges. The burglary charges date back to May 2009 when the twenty-year-old stole from JFK High School, located in Bellmore.

Sources claimed that he voluntarily surrendered to the charges last year after being arraigned in October. He had received a grand jury indictment for third-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny, and third-degree possession of stolen property. He attended County Court today in Mineola, accompanied by his mother and attorney.

According to reports, his father is a partner at an accounting firm in Manhattan and a board member of the Nassau County Police Department Foundation. He had donated an estimated $100k to the foundation, which is also being investigated as part of the conspiracy scandal. Proceedings were adjourned until Thursday when the case will be further examined by court officials.

It has also been reported that the twenty-year-old had become a civilian employee of the department’s ambulance unit with help of one of the indicted officials. This occurred in July of 2008, and had caused the case to be initially handed over to Internal Affairs. This conflict of interest was later ignored when the case was returned to the department, after one of the officials allegedly intervened.

The twenty-year-old was dressed in a suit and had been depicted by his lawyer as a college student attempting to turn his life around. He and his mother had no comment for those who attempted to speak with them outside the courthouse.