Crime & Safety

Crimes Nearby: Dead Bodies Found, Police Officer Assaulted and More

A rundown of the week's top crime stories in neighboring communities.

The following information was supplied by the Nassau County and Rockville Centre Police Departments. A criminal charge is only an accusation, and does not indicate convictions.

Dead Body Discovered Inside Hempstead Park

The body of a deceased Hispanic man was discovered inside Kennedy Park in Hempstead early Saturday.

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Nassau County Police's Homicide Squad Detectives later identified the deceased as Jose R. Valleja, 24, (no known address). Valleja was found inside the park, located at 335 Greenwich St., shortly after 1 a.m. on Sept. 8. He had suffered severe trauma to the neck and head area, causing fatal wounds, according to the police. Valleja's body was transported to the Nassau County Medical Examiners Morgue to determine the exact cause of death. 

Police ask anyone with information regarding this crime to contact the Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

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Man Dies After Apparent Fall From Apartment Building

Another dead body was found in Hempstead Thursday morning.

According to Nassau County detectives, Hempstead Police were called to the rear of 43 High Street around 6:25 a.m. to investigate why a male Hispanic in his 20’s was lying on the ground there. Upon arrival, they discovered the man was deceased. Apparently he had fallen off the roof of a three story apartment building, according to police.

The reasons for the fall are undetermined and the investigation is ongoing.  The identification of the deceased is being withheld pending family notification.

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Gunman Robs Franklin Square Citibank 

Nassau County Police are investigating a robbery that occurred Tuesday at the Citibank branch in Franklin Square.

According to detectives, a male white in his 30’s, about 5’8” tall with a thin build, shoulder length brown hair, wearing a camouflage T-shirt, a green hooded jacket, black jeans and white sneakers, entered Citibank (670 Franklin Ave.) around 3:12 p.m. The suspect approached a bank teller and verbally demanded money while displaying a handgun.

After obtaining an undetermined amount of cash, the suspect fled out of a rear door into the parking lot. He was last seen heading northbound into the creek bed behind the CVS store.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding this Robbery to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

$14K Ring Stolen From Rockville Centre Home

On Aug. 26 at 12:40 p.m., a complainant from Hempstead Avenue in Rockville Centre reported that sometime between Aug. 25 at 1 p.m. and Aug. 26 at 11 a.m., unknown person(s) stole assorted jewelry including an engagement ring valued at $14,000 from a bedroom at her residence.

18 Beer Kegs Stolen From Croxley's

On Aug. 22 at 1 p.m., complainant owner from Croxley’s Bar, located at 7-9 S. Park Ave. in Rockville Centre, reported that at approximately 6:32 a.m., unknown person(s) cut a padlock and stole 18 beer kegs valued at $900 from a fenced area in the rear of the business. 

Robbers Shoot Gas Station Clerk With Pellet Gun

A 38-year-old male employee of the Star gas station in Hempstead was shot by a pellet gun last Monday during a robbery.

According to detectives, two unknown black male black suspects entered the gas station, located at 699 Fulton Avenue, around 5 a.m. and demanded money from the employee. One suspect was armed with a pellet gun and shot the victim in both legs. After obtaining an unknown amount of U.S. currency the subjects fled the scene by unknown means. The victim was removed to an area hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

Police Officer Assaulted During Vehicle Stop

A Hempstead man was arrested early Friday morning for allegedly assaulting a police officer.

According to Nassau County detectives, Jose Torres, 30, was driving a 2000 Chevy Astro van with three other male passengers, ages 19, 29, and 25, around 1:45 a.m, when a Seventh Precinct officer stopped the vehicle on Broadway and Sunrise Highway in Massapequa. As the officer approached the car, the Torres drove westbound on Sunrise Highway, allegedly refusing to stop for the officer. He entered onto the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway heading north to the Southern State Parkway, where he continued westbound.

The vehicle exited at Peninsula Boulevard in Hempstead, where it was observed by First Precinct officers. Torres eventually stopped on Sealey Avenue and all the occupants fled the vehicle on foot. Torres was pursued by officers and located a short distance away. He allegedly resisted attempts by the officers to place him under arrest, causing one officer to suffer an injury to his hand. A second officer suffered a laceration to his hand while climbing a fence. Both officers were treated at a local hospital and released.

The passengers were located with the assistance of a Canine officer and placed in custody a short time later. They were not charged and were released from the Seventh Precinct.

Torres is charged with second-degree Assault, Reckless Driving, Resisting Arrest, third-degree Unlawful Fleeing of a Police Officer, two counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property, and multiple vehicle and traffic law violations. He was arraigned on Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead. 

Suspect Steals Cash from Gas Station Employee

A suspect yielding a pipe robbed an employee of the Star gas station in Franklin Square Saturday night.

Accordin to detectives with Nassau County Police's Fifth Squad, the suspect approached the 29-year-old male employee of the gas station, located at 740 Hempstead Turnpike, around 7:30 p.m. as he was handing change to a customer. The white male suspect grabbed an unknown amount of cash from the victim's hands, while stating that he had a gun, but did not display the weapon.

He fled on foot northbound on Goldenrod Avenue, but the victim gave chase and confronted the supsect, who was now armed with a metal pipe. The victim returned to the gas station and notified police. No injuries were reported.

The suspect is further described as 20 to 25 years of age, 5’07” tall, 200lbs., wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, dark shorts and a baseball hat. Detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

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


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