Left in stitches
A 30-year-old area man has been connected to a slashing on Flatbush Avenue that left a resident with a deep cut that required 20 stitches.
Prosecutors said that Hector Ramos was arrested on January 3 in connection with the December 19 slashing on Flatbush Avenue near Tillary Street.
Officials alleged that the two men were arguing at 12:30 p.m. that afternoon when Ramos pulled a razor blade and raked it against the victim’s face.
The victim was rushed to the hospital, where it was determined that he needed 20 stitches to close the wound.
Following a two-week investigation, cops finally got their hands on Ramos, charging him with assault, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, attempted assault and harassment.
Road renegade
Cops put the brakes on an unlicensed road warrior allegedly caught tearing up asphalt in downtown Brooklyn Monday.
Since Flatbush Avenue and Livingston Street is probably one of the most congested corners in the borough, police were quite surprised to see Roneilio Vassell, 26, allegedly zipping around cars and then making a left turn from the right lane.
Cops pulled over Vassell only to find out that he didn’t have any ID on him, officials alleged.
When Vassell was asked to get out of the car, the 26-year-old allegedly opened the door and ran off.
Cops chased him down and apprehended him after a brief struggle.
After taking him into custody, cops learned that Vassell had his licensed suspended after receiving 12 motor vehicle summonses on seven separate dates.
When he didn’t respond to the summonses in court, his license to drive was suspended, officials alleged.
Vassell was ultimately charged with resisting arrest, reckless driving and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Monopoly money
A 28-year-old shopper was arrested in the Circuit City inside the Atlantic Center Mall last week after he allegedly tried to buy a pricey television with some not-so-legal tender.
Prosecutors alleged that Joshua Santiago tried to buy the $1,200 TV in cash with counterfeit money at 6 p.m. on December 30, but the clever teller at the counter saw through his ruse.
According to the complaint filed with the Kings County District Attorney’s office, the money reportedly had a fake watermark and appeared as if it was printed on “cheap” paper.
Cops were called to the department store, where they allegedly found an additional $1,800 in counterfeit bills in Santiago’s pockets.
The 28-year-old claimed that he had received the money from someone else after he had sold the man a set of tire rims, police said.
Despite his story, cops took Santiago into custody, charging him with criminal possession of a forged instrument and attempted grand larceny.
Up in smoke
A would-be businessman was becoming very popular with smokers in downtown Brooklyn by offering cigarettes at significantly reduced prices — until police discovered that he was allegedly selling untaxed tobacco.
According to police and published reports, Eugene Ernest’s pitch outside the Hoyt/Schermerhorn train station — as well as his sale price of $5 a cigarette pack — was drawing such a crowd that it soon drew the attention of police officers.
Cops took a closer look at the cigarettes to learn that the packs in his pocket allegedly didn’t have the needed tax stamps.
He was quickly charged with attempt to evade cigarette tax and the possession and sale of untaxed cigarettes.
Sud steal
Cops are looking for three booze-loving brutes who robbed a beer distributor on York Street last week.
Police said that the distributor had just finished dropping off some suds between Bridge and Gold streets on the afternoon of December 30 when he returned to his truck and found the two men rooting around the back of his rig.
When he yelled at the two men, one of the suspects pulled a gun and demanded his money.
The thieves robbed the distributor of $1,000, officials said.
No injuries were reported.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this theft to come forward.
Calls can be made to the 84th Precinct at (718) 875-6811. All calls will be kept confidential.
Who’s grinning now?
All an 11-year-old boy wanted for Christmas was his two front teeth after he lost his choppers during a recent fight with another child wielding a plastic shopping basket, officials said.
Police announced this week that the assailant, also 11, was arrested in connection with the December 11 attack outside of the CVS on Court Street near Pacific Street.
Witnesses said that the two were fighting outside of the store when the assailant — who was much scrawnier than his opponent, according to police — grabbed a plastic shopping basket and swung it at the victim.
The basket hit him in the face, cracking his front teeth, as well as several others.
Cops apprehended the assailant a short time later and charged with assault.
Stabbed in face
Police welcomed the new year by investigating a brutal attack in which a 30-year-old man was stabbed in the face.
According to police and published reports, the victim was attacked just before 5 a.m. on January 1.
A pedestrian reportedly found the victim at the corner of Clinton and Greene avenues and called police.
He was rushed to Kings County Hospital suffering from stab wounds to the face and body. He was listed in stable condition after treatment.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.
Calls can be made to the 88th Precinct at (718) 636-6511. All calls will be kept confidential.
New Year’s Eve shooting
A man was shot repeatedly during a clash on St. Edwards Street between Park and Myrtle avenues as 2008 came to a close.
Police said that the 22-year-old victim was hit in the arm, legs and stomach after a phantom gunman opened fire on him at 12:20 p.m. on December 31.
The man’s injuries did not seem to be life threatening, said police, who were still looking for the shooter as this paper went to press.
Shoplifting spree
Two men were arrested last week when they were allegedly caught clearing store shelves inside the Target at the Atlantic Center Mall.
Officials alleged that 32-year-old Pedro Rivera and 29-year-old Hector Ramos were seen taking items off the shelves and passing them to each other at 6:15 p.m. on January 4.
As they passed things back and forth, they reportedly hid some of the items in their clothes, police said.
The items were later recovered when the suspects allegedly tried to leave the store without paying for them.
Cops also recovered a switchblade and a pair of scissors from the suspects, officials said.
Police charged both men with possession of burglar’s tools, petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of a weapon.
Boozing and shopping
A woman caught slamming back a Bud inside the Atlantic Center Mall was arrested after she flexed her beer muscles against two security guards, police alleged.
Prosecutors allege that when a security guard found Lataiya Horne, 36, sipping from an open container inside the mall, she was asked to leave the premises.
Instead of complying, she reportedly flew into a rage and cursed and spit at the guards, police alleged.
Cops were ultimately called and Horne was charged with trespass and disorderly conduct as well as consumption of alcohol in public.
Help find her
Police are turning to the community for help in their search for an 80-year-old woman who has been missing since January 5.
Concerned family members said that Susanna Baptist was last seen leaving her home on Lincoln Road at 10 p.m. Monday.
The 5’5”, 150-pound woman was last seen wearing a black and white hat, black jacket, black shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers.
Police said that Baptist is in good physical condition, but poor mental health.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is urged to come forward.
Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
In the zone
Cops have connected a recent Auto Zone robbery to a crew of brazen thieves wanted for a handful of similar heists.
Officials said that two men walked into the Auto Zone on Atlantic Avenue near Grand Avenue at 8 a.m. on December 22 posing as customers, but quickly pulled guns on an employee, demanding to know if he had a key to the safe.
The thieves reportedly pistol-whipped the worker until he opened the safe and gave them over $8,000 in receipts, officials said.
Police believe that the same men are responsible for robbing several Auto Zone and Strauss Discount Auto stores in Brooklyn and Queens.
The gun-toting thieves — believed to be four in all — cut their teeth on an Auto Zone store on Ralph Avenue near East 78th Street in Canarsie back on August 13 and continued on December 18, where they raided a Strauss Discount Auto on 86th Street near 17th Avenue in Bensonhurst.
Their cash grab tour took them to an Auto Zone store on Utica Avenue and Rutland Road in East Flatbush on August 14 as well as a third Auto Zone on 86th Street and 17th Avenue on December 10.
Officials said that the four suspects would barge into the store during either the morning or evening hours, brandish firearms and rob the store of the receipts.
No serious injuries have been reported.
Cops are asking anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to come forward.
Calls can be made to the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
Wipe out graffiti
As the ongoing war against graffiti continues, a $500 reward is being offered to anyone with information about graffiti vandals.
Graffiti is one of the leading quality of life complaints brought to police.
Anyone with information about graffiti vandalism is urged to contact either 311 or 911.
Pizza shooter bust
Cops have arrested a 19-year-old in connection with the recent shooting of a pizza delivery man.
Officials allege that Charles Quinones attempted to hold up the delivery man and a friend on Monument Walk near Park Avenue back on November 24.
When Quinones allegedly demanded that the two hand over their cash, one of the victims punched him in the face.
Enraged, the 19-year-old pulled a gun and opened fire, wounding both men, police alleged.
Cops caught up with Quinones last week, charging him with attempted murder, assault and robbery.
