A Brooklyn man was arrested for allegedly blowing up a Verizon van in an act of road rage in Crown Heights.
Kevindale Nurse, 26, was taken into custody on Aug. 8 and charged with arson. He is due to appear before the court later this afternoon.
According to court documents, On Jan. 31, Nurse was allegedly driving in a white minibus, or commuter “dollar van,” with his four-year-old son in tow when he cut off a Verizon utility van. The Verizon repairmen in the van were working that day on fiber optic equipment and data lines for high-speed internet.
Video surveillance allegedly showed Nurse driving erratically before stopping the bus next to the van at the intersection of President Street and Brooklyn Avenue. After opening the door to the minibus, Nurse allegedly threw an explosive device into the driver’s side window of the Verizon van, which then exploded inside.
The Verizon workers sustained multiple injuries as a result, and the van was badly damaged by the explosion.
“As alleged, Nurse deliberately threw an explosive device into the window of another vehicle on a public road, endangering the lives of the vehicle’s occupants and others in the area,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “Unfortunately, road rage is an all-too common occurrence in our communities. But this dangerous and senseless attack on a busy intersection in the heart of Brooklyn was beyond the pale. We will vigorously prosecute this case.”
If convicted, Nurse faces a minimum of 7 years to a maximum of 40 years in prison.
“There is no place in civil society for the spreading of fear through intimidation, violence, and destruction,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “I commend the work of our NYPD investigators, along with our law enforcement partners at the ATF and the office of the
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, for their dedication and collaboration in bringing this accused criminal to justice.”
“The defendant committed an unconscionable act by using explosives during a road rage incident, disregarding the potentially deadly consequences when he threw an explosive device in a neighboring vehicle. Thanks to strong law enforcement partnerships and the investigative efforts of ATF NY’s Arson & Explosives Task Force comprised of ATF Special Agents, FDNY Fire Marshals and NYPD Detectives, the NYPD 71st Precinct Detective Squad, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York this defendant will now face the consequences of his horrific actions,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller.
