Thanks for the assist…
Cops from the 66th Precinct honored members of Borough Park’s Shomrim Patrol last week for being an instrumental part in the search of a pedophile found lurking around area parks.
Inspector Peter DiBlasio, the commanding officer of the 66th Precinct, said that members of the volunteer patrol saw a suspicious looking man hanging outside of Gravesend Park near the corner of 18th Avenue and 57th Street on April 17.
The patrol followed the suspect, who was later identified as 61-year-old Michael Martin of Connecticut, around the neighborhood until he resurfaced on Digilio Playground at the corner of Avenue F and McDonald Avenue, where he allegedly attacked two children.
Thanks to the patrol’s assistance, cops from the neighboring 70th Precinct were able to take Martin into custody.
The Shomrim reportedly called police to the park as Martin sexually assaulted a girl he found in the park bathroom.
He allegedly bolted from the bathroom when she cried for help and was immediately placed under arrest, officials said.
Cops charged him with three counts of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
“The Shomrim Patrol is a huge part of the good things that are happening here,” said DiBlasio. “They’re act as extra eyes and ears for us and they help us with arrests, especially on the midnights.”
