Gunshots over E. 21 St.
A man was shot in the buttocks and a police cruiser was hit by a bullet during a shooting on East 21st Street March 20.
Officials said that cops from the 70th Precinct were checking out a building between Beverley Road and Regent Place at 11:45 p.m. when they heard gunshots.
Bullets reportedly flew past responding police officers, with one blasting out the cruiser’s back windshield. A second bullet struck a man fleeing East 21st Street, officials said.
Cops raced to the corner of East 21st Street and Beverley Road, finding a young man running away. The man, later identified as 20-year-old Nick Etienne, was taken into custody after a short pursuit and charged with assault in the first degree, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.
Tap dance
Two men pulled weapons and charged a motorist after he allegedly tapped the back of their car near the corner of Church Avenue and East 46th Street.
The victim said that his car bumper met with the assailants’ bumper at 1:50 p.m. March 18 when the two suspects jumped out of the vehicle.
One of the men had a hammer in his hands, officials alleged. The other had a golf club.
Police said that the two men charged the victim’s vehicle, smashing his side-view mirror.
Responding officers took the two men, identified as 34-year-old Edward Murray and 30-year-old Nordi Learmond, into custody, charging them with menacing, criminal mischief and harassment.
Train mugger busted
A 21-year-old was arrested March 21 after he allegedly tried to turn a Coney Island-bound Q train into his happy hunting ground.
Officials alleged that Igor Tretyakov grabbed a man as the train approached the Newkirk Avenue station at 4:10 am. He had his hand in his pocket as if he had a weapon, police alleged.
“Give me your phone, iPod and money or I will stab you,” he allegedly threatened.
Police said that Tretyakov fled before taking anything, but wasn’t about to give up on his alleged criminal career. A short time later, he held up a second man as the train neared the Avenue M station at 4:16 a.m., taking a small amount of money, police alleged.
When cops were called to the train, they grabbed Tretyakov, reportedly recovering the money from his sock.
Bedford basher
A man was arrested March 19 after he tried to bash his way into a Bedford Avenue apartment, police alleged.
Officials said that Shawn Marshall, 28, allegedly attacked his victim at 2:05 p.m. as the victim walked up to his apartment between Tilden Avenue and Beverley Road.
Marhsall allegedly punched the victim in the face and kicked him in the ribs,police said. The victim ran to his apartment, locking the door behind him.
Police said Marshall allegedly bashed in the door, severing the lock as the victim tried to hold it in place.
Responding officers arrested Marshall on the scene, charging him with burglary in the first degree, assault and criminal trespass.
Caught looting
The luck of the Irish wasn’t with Terrance Jones March 17 when cops caught him allegedly looting a car on Nostrand Avenue.
Police said they grabbed Jones, 38, after they saw him allegedly inside a Nissan Maxima parked near the corner of Parkside and Nostrand Avenues at 1:30 a.m.
The side window was broken, officials said, adding that Jones had a screwdriver and other burglar’s tools when he was taken into custody, charged with criminal mischief and petit larceny.
Help wipe out graffiti
As the ongoing war against graffiti vandalism continues, cops are now offering a $500 reward to anyone with information that can lead them to graffiti vandals.
The hefty reward is part of the city’s new push to rid New York of graffiti, which is one of the leading quality of life complaints brought to police.
Officials said that cleaning up graffiti is essential to the plan, to show that the community is no longer going to tolerate marred and tagged-up walls and street corners.
According to police, there is a perception that if a community will tolerate graffiti, they will tolerate other criminal activities, such as drug dealing and prostitution.
Anyone with information about graffiti vandalism in their neighborhood is urged to contact either 311 or 911.
