Crime & Safety

Crimes Nearby: Plot to Kill Sex Abuse Victim, Third Arrest in RVC Gang Assault

A rundown of the top police stories from communities neighboring Malverne, Lynbrook and West Hempstead.

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

An Inwood store owner, already charged with sexually abusing a teenaged employee, was arraigned Thursday morning for plotting to kill the teen to prevent him from testifying in the sex abuse case.

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Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced that , 45, was arraigned on an indictment containing one count each of conspiracy in the second degree and criminal solicitation in the second degree. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Bail was set in the amount of $5 million bond or $2.5 million cash. He is due back in court Aug. 1.

Miller, the owner of a Santeria religious supplies store in Inwood, is currently incarcerated in the Nassau County Correctional Center after being arrested on April 19 and charged with criminal sexual act in the first degree and other charges for  a 17-year-old male employee.

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The sexual assault charges are currently pending and Miller faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

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Rice said that Nassau detectives were informed in June by a confidential source that he had information concerning a murder-for-hire plot involving Miller. The source said that he had been approached by a relative of Miller's to visit Miller at the jail. During the visit, Miller allegedly asked the source to arrange to have the sexual abuse victim killed, and then instructed the source to go to Miller's home for more information, Rice said.

When the source arrived at Miller's home, he met with two of Miller's family members who provided him with documents containing the intended victim's personal information, Rice said. The source then contacted police and met with Miller at the jail.

During that meeting, Miller offered to pay the source $15,000 to arrange the killing by making it look like a cell phone robbery, Rice said. Miller told the source that his mother, a secretary at , had stolen the personal records of the intended victim from the school.

Rice said the investigation is ongoing and charges could be filed against additional suspects, including Miller's family members.

Prior to the murder-for-hire plot, Miller had asked a relative to have an unidentified man make a Voodoo doll of the victim and stick pins and knives into it, Rice said. Miller allegedly asked the man to use the victim's photo and dirt from his house to perform a ritual intended to give the victim cancer.

A third teen was arrested and charged in the  that put a 44-year-old Rockville Centre resident in the hospital with broken ribs.

Kevin Coyle, 18, was arrested at his home on Thursday night after the Rockville Centre and Nassau County Police departments discovered his involvement through a joint investigation. According to the NCPD, Coyle was charged with second-degree gang assault.

Coyle, a recently-graduated senior from , also was a starter on the school's Nassau County Championship basketball team.

Two other seniors — William Moore and Matthew Diperna, both 18 —  at the end of June, just a few days after the June 19 assault.

Man Drives Into Dunkin Donuts, Pinning Patron

An 86-year-old man drove into the Dunkin Donuts on Sunrise Highway in Valley Stream on Thursday, pinning a 45-year-old man and sending him to the hospital in serious condition, according to police.

On June 12 at 3:30 p.m., the operator of the 1996 Buick, along with an 85-year-old female passenger, drove into the 120 East Sunrise Highway storefront, shattering the glass.

The 45-year-old man, along with two additional patrons, ages 55 and 60, and the operator and passenger of the vehicle were transported to local hospitals, police said. The two patrons, the driver and passenger of the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

The 45 year old, who sustained internal injures, is listed in serious condition. 

Four employees who were in the store at the time of the accident were not injured.

Detectives report no apparent criminality at this time. A Breathalyzer test was performed at the scene, yielding negative results. The vehicle has been impounded for brake and safety checks.

Cops: Identity Thief Fought with Officers

A Brooklyn man was arrested last Monday in the Green Acres Mall after he allegedly opened store credit accounts using stolen information and fought with police officers, according to police.

Marco LaPlace, 37, of Brooklyn, was apparently seen on July 9 at 8:15 p.m. entering the Kohl’s at 1098 Green Acres Mall by a store loss prevention supervisor, police said. LaPlace was recognized because on three previous occasions — May 15, May 16, and June 18 — he allegedly entered the store and fraudulently opened store credit accounts using forged New York State licenses.

The defendant allegedly produced information belonging to the victims that included their names, addresses and social security numbers, police said. LaPlace, who allegedly struggled with officers at the time of his arrest, was found to be in possession of three New York State Driver’s licenses.

Weapons Arrest After Shots Fired in Hempstead

Nassau County Police arrested a Hempstead man for Criminal Possession of a Weapon on Sunday at 11:29 p.m. in Hempstead.

According to detectives, Hempstead Police officers were on routine patrol when they heard multiple shots fired in the vicinity of Terrace Avenue. The officers observed the defendant, Kevin Dingle, 20, running into the garage 100 Terrace Ave. Dingle was stopped and a loaded .380 Semi Automatic Pistol that was reported stolen in Virginia was recovered. There were no injuries reported.

Dingle is charged with two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Reckless Endangerment, and Possession of Stolen Property. He will be arraigned on Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Garden City Police reported last week that there has been 15 residential burglaries in the village so far this year, eight more when compared to the same time period in 2011.

The most recent burglaries occurring during the past few weeks have occurred primarily during daytime hours, police said, and in most cases forced entry was made through a rear window or door. Jewelry and electronic devices are the primary items taken during these crimes.

Garden City Detective Division is working closely with the Nassau County Detective Division in solving a string of recent cases. The department has also beefed up residential patrols with both marked and unmarked vehicles. Evidence recovered at some of the home that have been broken into has been sent out for testing

Victim Robbed of iPhone in Park Avenue Parking Lot

A man was assaulted and robbed of his iPhone early Saturday morning in a Rockville Centre parking lot.

According to Nassau County detectives, around 1:30 a.m., a 38-year-old male victim was approached by three light-skinned Hispanic males in Rockville Centre Parking Lot No. 3, located on Park Avenue. One of the suspects punched the victim in the face and took his iPhone.

The suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction, police said.Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this crime or any others in this story to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.  All callers will remain anonymous.

Franklin Square Man Arrested for Gun Possession

A Franklin Square man was arrested Sunday for the Criminal Possession of a Weapon shortly after 2 a.m. According to Nassau County Police, a 47-year-old male victim was on his cell phone in front of 920 Hempstead Turnpike when he observed Michael Osborne, 37, of Franklin Square,pull out a black hand gun from his waistband and then point it toward eastbound Hempstead Turnpike.

Osborne again allegedly pointed the handgun in the direction of the victim, causing him to take cover behind a light pole. The victim notified police and requested assistance. The suspect entered the door way of 906 Hempstead Turnpike but when he exited at 5:13 a.m, police placed him under arrest without incident. A black Walther Starter Pistol was recovered. There were no injuries reported.

Osborne is being charged with third degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon  and second degree Menacing. 

For more crime, click on these links: , Rockville Centre  and , Garden City and Five Towns


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