Crimes Nearby: Kids Injured in Carjacking, Murder Investigation Leads to Arrests

The following information was supplied by the Nassau County and Rockville Centre Police Departments. A criminal charge is only an accusation and does indicate guilt.

Suspects Arrested for Homicide, Attempted Murder

A joint investigation into the murder of a man in Hempstead led to the arrests of two suspects, one for this crime and another for a related one.

Homicide detectives arrested Ronald Jackson, 30, of Roosevelt, on Sept. 24 and charged him with the murder of Torrance Maye, 36, of Hempstead. Mayes was found on Sept. 18 around 3:28 a.m. lying in the rear parking lot of 45 Main Street next to a vehicle. He had suffered a gunshot wound and was transported to the Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced by hospital staff at 4:12 a.m.

During the course of the investigation, Homicide detectives became aware of a related Attempted Murder that occurred earlier that morning, at 1:43 a.m., on Thorne Avenue in Hempstead. According to detectives, Ronald Bishop, 30, of Hempstead, fired several rounds from a handgun at the 36-year-old male victim and at his residence.

Bishop was arrested and charged with second-degree Attempted Murder and first-degree Reckless Endangerment while Jackson was charged with second-degree Murder. Both were arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Sept. 25.

A homeless man and a Rockville Centre resident have been charged with robbing the Franklin Square branch of the Ridgewood Savings Bank in early June.

Nassau County's Robbery Squad arrested David Traversa, 19, and George Armstrong, 20, of Rockville Centre, and charged them with third-degree Robbery and Grand Larceny. (Armstrong was additionally charged with six other unrelated warrant charges.)

According to detectives, one of the suspects entered the Ridgewood Savings Bank at 1010 Hempstead Tpke. on June 6 at 10:37 a.m. and presented a demand note to a teller. After obtaining an undetermined amount of cash, the suspect fled the scene on foot northbound on Pacific Street. There were 10 employees and three customers present during the robbery, but no injuries were reported.

Both Traversa and Armstrong were arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead.

Kids Injured During Carjacking in Hempstead

A Hempstead man was arrested last Monday for a carjacking that injured two kids who were inside the vehicle at the time the crime was committed.

According to Nassau County detectives, Ashburn Neysmith, 52, jumped through the rear passenger side window of a 2013 Ford four-door CUV that was being operated by the 31-year-old woman. The victim’s two children, ages 12 and 6, were both inside the car at the time.

Neysmith landed on the six year old, who was seated in the rear passenger side seat of the vehicle, causing the child to sustain an injury to his right knee. Neysmith then demanded the vehicle and got into the front passenger seat, while forcing the driver out of the car. Neysmith attempted to drive off and as he did the 12 year old, who was seated in the rear driver’s side seat, attempted to get out of the vehicle but his legs were run over, causing injuries to both of his ankles.

A group of bystanders blocked the vehicle and held Neysmith until police arrived. The victims were transported by Village of Hempstead Police to a local area hospital for treatment of their injuries.

Neysmith is being charged with three counts of Robbery in the second degree, two counts of Assault in the second degree and two counts of Endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Suspect Arrested for Fatal Hit-and-Run

A Uniondale man was arrested Sunday afternoon for leaving the scene of an accident in Hempstead that claimed the life of a 39-year-old man.

According to detectives, Juan Santos, 42, was operating a 1999 Chevrolet pick-up truck on Fulton Avenue when he struck the man at 2:50 a.m. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:10 a.m.

Santos is being charged with Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reportingm and will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead Monday.

RVC Man Charged With Stealing More Than $870K from Insurance Companies

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced Friday that a Rockville Centre man has been charged with stealing more than $870,000 from two title insurance companies, leaving homeowners without mortgages, titles to their property, and liability coverage.

Gerard Timoney, 54, was arraigned on two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree. Bail was set in the amount of $100,000. Timoney was arrested Wednesday by DA Investigators. Click here for the full story.

Brooklyn Man Charged With Robbing Postal Worker 

Police have arrested a Brooklyn man for allegedly robbing a United States Postal worker in North Valley Stream last month. 

According to detectives, a 59-year-old US Postal worker was attempting to deliver a package to a home located on Custer Street around noon on Aug. 31, but no one answered the door. As the victim was leaving he was approached by a male suspect, who claimed to be the recipient of the package. The worker told the suspect to return to the home and he would meet him there. 

When the victim arrived at the home he asked the suspect for identification, which he could not produce.  The suspect then pushed the victim to the ground, took the package and fled the scene in a black automobile. There were no injuries reported.

After an investigation, police arrested Don Joseph, 24, of Brooklyn, on Sept. 27 and charged him with third-degree Robbery. He was arraigned Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.

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