Crimes Nearby: Arrests for Gunpoint Robbery, Leaving Scene of Accident and More

RVC Detectives Arrest Duo for 2011 Gunpoint Robbery

An investigation from detectives at the Rockville Centre Police Department has resulted in the arrests of two suspects for a 2011 gunpoint robbery on N. Centre Avenue.

Police said that at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Sept. 23, two suspects, later identified as Taaj Cox and Justin Mayers, robbed four victims at gunpoint in front of 100 N. Centre Ave.

A semi-automatic handgun was held to one of the victim's faces and property was demanded, police said. The property stolen included numerous credit/debit cards, cash, personal identifications, cell phones, and keys.

After a lengthy investigation, Cox was arrested on June 6 in front of 30 Old Mill Court in Rockville Centre. Detectives eventually located and arrested Justin Mayers in Moscow, Pa., on Oct. 25.

Both defendants were charged with robbery in the first degree and, if convicted, could face up to 20 years in prison.

Arrest Made in Garden City SUV, Motorcycle Crash

A Garden City man was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Auto Accident that occurred Sunday morning in the village.

According to detectives, James Gallagher, 69, of Garden City, was operating his 2001 Nissan Pathfinder, attempting to make a left turn onto eastbound Old Country Road from northbound Linden Street, around 9:20 a.m. on Nov. 24 when he allegedly struck a motorcycle that was traveling eastbound in the right lane of Old Country Road. Gallagher failed to stop after hitting the biker, cops say.

The operator of the motorcycle, a 29-year-old man, suffered internal injuries as well as a partial amputation of his right foot.  He was transported to an area hospital and is listed in critical but stable condition. 

A Garden City Patrol Officer located Gallagher driving on a side street in close proximity to the accident and he was arrested. Gallagher is charged with Leaving the Scene of a Serious Physical Injury Collision and was arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Fingerprint Used to Catch Suspect in Garden City Buglary

A Hickville man was arrested Saturday for allegedly burglarizing a Garden City home in early September.

Nassau County Police's Third Squad arrested Christian Pagan, 19, at 11:10 p.m on Nov. 24. According to detectives, Garden City Police responded to a Roosevelt Avenue home on Sept. 3 at 3:45 p.m. for an alarm. The officers discovered window screens on the first and second floor had been cut and an unknown person had entered the second floor of the home. No proceeds were reported stolen.  The Nassau County Police Crime Scene Unit was able to obtain a latent finger print that matched Pagan.

Pagan is charged with second-degree burglary and was arraigned Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Man Arrested for Forgery, False Personation in Valley Stream

Police arrested a Far Rockaway man in Valley Stream early Wednesday after he was found to be in possession of forged credit cards.

According to detectives, Fourth Precinct Police Officers observed Oluwayemi Famojuro, 21, of Far Rockaway, operating a 2006 Infinity G35 eastbound on the sidewalk of Sunrise Highway. When the officers conducted a vehicle and traffic law investigation, Famojuro presented a New York State drivers license with a name that did not match his description. When questioned about his identity he continued to falsely represent himself.

After Famojuro was placed under arrest he was found to be in possession of four credit cards that appeared to be altered. With the assistance of a detective from Crimes Against Property Squad it was determined that the cards had been forged.

Famojuro is charged with four counts of second-degree Possession of Forged Instrument and False Personation. He was arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Police Commissioner: RVCPD Gang Plan Getting Results

An ongoing investigation by the Rockville Centre Police Department focusing on eradicating gang presence in the village is showing positive results, according to police officials.

Police say that since its inception in 2010, the investigation has seen 48 arrests resulting from gang-related offense, including include drug trafficking and violent crimes. Drugs, money and numerous firearms have been seized during the investigation.

In early 2010, Police Commissioner Charles Gennario introduced a plan to address Rockville Centre’s gang issues. Focusing on gang-specific criminal behavior and incorporating the assistance of the FBI, Gennario spearheaded an investigation that has seen 40 of the 48 defendants either get convicted or plea to the crimes charged.

Combined, these defendants could serve more than 600 years in prison -- an average of more than 15 years per defendant. In addition, several of the arrested persons are facing life imprisonment. More pleas or convictions are expected for the remaining defendants, police said.

"The safety of our residents is paramount and these convictions will have a long-lasting positive impact on the welfare of the citizens of Rockville Centre," Gennario said. "The Rockville Centre Police Department wants to thank all of our partners in this case, and I particularly want to express my appreciation for the efforts of the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our colleagues at the Nassau County Police Department."

Police officials told Patch that violent crime is down as a result of their efforts and that the investigation is currently ongoing.

Arrests

• On Nov. 11 at 12:51 a.m., Mildred M. Melendez, 53, of Freeport, was arrested while in the vicinity of Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre for aggravated unlicensed operation in the second degree and vehicle and traffic law violations.
• On Nov. 11 at 2:11 a.m., Serafino D. Desimone, 22, of Wantagh, was arrested while in the vicinity of Sunrise Highway and N. Park Avenue in Rockville Centre for criminal mischief in the third degree.
• On Nov. 11 at 3:54 a.m., Thierry Thesatus, 28, of East Setauket, was arrested while in the vicinity of Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre for driving while intoxicated and speeding.
• On Nov. 11 at 2:15 a.m., Vincent A. Gulino, 23, of Massapequa Park, was arrested while in the vicinity of Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre for driving while intoxicated and vehicle and traffic law violations.
• On Nov. 11 at 9:57 p.m., Raul Camacho, 30, of Brentwood, was arrested while in the vicinity of N. Long Beach Road in Rockville Centre for aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree and vehicle and traffic law violations following a police investigation of a motor vehicle accident.
• On Nov. 11 at 8:14 a.m., Laura J. Solano, 25, of Rockville Centre, was arrested while in the vicinity of Woodland Avenue and Lincoln Avenue in Rockville Centre for aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Larceny

• On Nov. 9 at 9:15 a.m., a complainant from Nottingham Road in Rockville Centre reported that sometime between 11:55 p.m. on Nov. 8 and 8 a.m. on Nov. 9, an unknown person(s) removed storm-damaged property from the vicinity of her residence without permission.
• On Nov. 10 at 1:45 p.m., a complainant from Rockville Centre reported that sometime between 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., an unknown person(s) stole a wallet containing $200 and miscellaneous paperwork from a closet at St. Agnes Cathedral, located at 29 Quealy Place.

ID Theft

• On Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m., a complainant from Rockville Centre reported that on Nov. 5, an unknown person(s) made unauthorized transactions against her Wells Fargo checking account totaling $538.28.

Property Damage

• On Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m., a complainant from Concord Street in Rockville Centre reported that sometime between 11:50 a.m. and 12:50 p.m., an unknown person(s) damaged the rear bumper area of his 1996 Toyota motor vehicle parked in front of his residence.

For more local crime, click on the following links:  Garden City, Rockville Centre, Five Towns and Long Beach