Gun running
A shooting in Bensonhurst led to the arrest of a 33-year-old man caught trying to hide a pistol under a parked car, police alleged.
Police said that they were called to 86th Street near 15th Avenue at 12:30 a.m. March 21 after receiving a flurry of 911 reports about a man with a gun.
The gunman reportedly opened fire on a second man found lying on the ground, although the victim wasn’t hit.
Witnesses reportedly saw a man, identified by police as Derek Gallo, take the gun and hide it in the wheel well of a parked car, police said.
Cops caught Gallo a few moments later, charging him with criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. The gun was recovered.
Police said that Gallo hasn’t been implicated in the shooting, although he is considered a person of interest.
Caught in the act
A 32-year-old had a BB gun pulled on him March 16 as he caught two thieves looting his 2009 Toyota in Sheepshead Bay.
The victim said that he was walking to his car, which was parked on East 21st Street near Avenue U, at 11:39 p.m. when he saw the men inside his car.
When he balked, the suspects pulled the BB gun on him, holding him at bay as they backed away with a small amount of money, police alleged.
Responding officers caught up with the two suspects, identified as Eugene Yelanchik and Richard Kizhner, both 18, a short time later, charging them with robbery. An assortment of the drug Oxymorphone was found on their person when they were taken into custody, police alleged.
Drunk and disorderly
A 52-year-old man was arrested March 18 after he threw an empty beer bottle at a school crossing guard during a drunken stupor, police alleged.
Police were called to the corner of Mermaid and Stillwell Avenues at 8 a.m. after Ali Al-Qauabi allegedly chucked the beer bottle at the crossing guard for no apparent reason. The bottle whizzed by the woman’s head as she escorted children across the street, police were told.
When cops arrived, they found Al-Qauabi cursing in two different languages, police alleged. He was taken into custody without incident charged with menacing, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.
All bark, no burgle
A barking dog helped a Sheepshead Bay woman shoo away a thief who crept into her East 12th Street home March 18.
The woman told police that she was sleeping just after 4 a.m. when she heard her dog barking. The home is located between Avenues Y and Z.
She got up to investigate and found a stranger standing in her kitchen. The thief had wormed his way through a bathroom window.
Once discovered, the thief fled, but didn’t get far. Cops caught up with the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Stanislaus Fatijeus, and charged him with burglary.
Have some fun?
A 74-year-old turned the tables on a 38-year-old thug in a crazed carjacking in Sea Gate March 14.
Cops were told that the victim was getting into his car on Oceanview Avenue at 11:20 a.m. when suspect David Benabo allegedly jumped into the back seat, asking the senior if he “wanted to have some fun.”
The plucky senior set aside his fear and immediately took action, taking the car to the nearest police station. As he drove, he called 911.
Outraged, Benabo bit the senior, robbed him and jumped out of the car, police alleged.
Cops caught up with the suspect a short time later, charging him with robbery and assault.
Don’t make a scene
Police have arrested an 18-year-old in connection with a March 19 robbery in Coney Island.
Prosecutors allege that Reginald McFarland grabbed his victim on the corner of Neptune Avenue and West 5th Street at 5:30 p.m., telling him to give up the money.
“Don’t make a scene. I will hit you and beat you up,” he said.
He then rifled through his victim’s pockets, taking $1 and a cell phone, alleged officials.
Responding officers arrested McFarland a short distance away, charging him with robbery in the third degree.
Run down
Cops are continuing to look for the hit-and-run driver who ran down a 60-year-old man in Brighton Beach.
Officials said that the victim was crossing the intersection of Brighton Beach Avenue and Brighton 4th Street just before 1:30 a.m. March 14 when he was hit by a black Ford Explorer traveling eastbound on Brighton Beach Avenue.
The victim, who is believed to be homeless, died at the scene.
Cops were still looking for the motorist, who fled without stopping.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Beach bonanza
A thief who broke into an Amherst Street home hit the mother lode — not only did he score some pricey jewelry and two laptop computers, but he also managed to get the keys to the Lexus parked in the driveway.
Cops were told that someone broke into the home, located near Hampton Avenue, sometime between 10 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. on March 9.
The thief managed to enter the home through an unlocked basement door, police said.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the 61st Precinct at (718) 627-6611. All calls will be kept confidential.