Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Daycare Center Raided as Drug Den

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Daycare Center Raided as Drug Den: 'C' is for Cocaine, 'O' is for Oxy BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 13- The signs may show pencils and books but Oxy and cocaine w...

Daycare Center Raided as Drug Den

'C' is for Cocaine, 'O' is for Oxy

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 13- The signs may show pencils and books but Oxy and cocaine were what was really on the menu at a daycare center outside Parkchester, officials said. A pile of coke, a gun and thousands of oxycodone pills were recovered when law enforcement raided the center.

  

As part of this investigation, agents and officers with the DEA's New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force arrested three individuals and conducted court authorized searches of 1499 Rosedale Avenue, where Fun World Childcare is located, and a stash location across the street at 1502 Rosedale Avenue. The defendants include alleged drug traffickers Gregorio Hanley and his wife Johanna Vasquez, who runs the day care center, and alleged drug buyer William Ferrer

 

In total, more than $80,000 in narcotics was seized during the searches, including at least one kilogram of cocaine, which carries a street value of approximately $50,000, and over 1,000 pills of oxycodone worth up to $30,000.

NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said, "The disregard for human life and public safety of these drug dealers was so limitless that one dealer used the residence where his two young sons lived to sell cocaine and illegal prescription drugs, even keeping a firearm near where they and multiple other children were cared for. Thanks to the NYPD detectives and their federal partners in this case, these drug traffickers no longer can subject innocent and law abiding Bronx residents to the dangers that come with illicit narcotics."

 

At approximately 8:50 p.m. on September 12, agents and officers observed Hanley leave Fun World Childcare and hand a plastic bag to two individuals inside a vehicle. Agents and officers followed the vehicle and stopped it a short time later at Harrod Avenue and Bronx River Parkway. Ferrer was arrested in possession of approximately 150 grams of cocaine.

 

Subsequently, at approximately 11:30 p.m. agents and officers conducted a court authorized search of 1499 Rosedale Avenue. Inside they found the day care center, adjoined by a residential area on the main floor occupied by Hanley, Vasquez and their two young sons. Downstairs were multiple basement apartments. The day care center, the residential area and the basement apartments are linked by interior doors.

 

During the search, agents and officers found $20,000 in a kitchen cabinet in the residential area occupied by Hanley and Vasque. A door from this apartment leads down to a basement apartment, where more than a kilogram of cocaine (approximately 2 1/2 lbs.) was found, including approximately 300 grams packed inside a child's insulated lunch bag, located in a refrigerator. Also in this apartment were more than 1,000 pills of oxycodone and 150 grams of crack-cocaine, as well as drug packaging materials and paraphernalia. This basement apartment opens onto an outdoor play yard connected to the childcare center.

 

Hanley was in possession of keys to another apartment across the street at 1502 Rosedale Avenue. Agents and officers searched that apartment pursuant to a search warrant. Inside a hidden compartment in a TV stand they found approximately $160,000 in cash and a loaded 9mm Taurus 1911 firearm that was reported stolen in Pennsylvania. Also seized were drug packaging materials and a money counter.

 

A criminal complaint filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor charges 

Hanley and Vasquez with multiple counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Use of Drug Paraphernalia, Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Unlawful Dealing with a Child. HANLEY is also charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Ferrer faces two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.

 

The three defendants are expected to be arraigned this evening in Manhattan Criminal Court.

 

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, "This was a significant drug trafficking operation as evidenced by nearly $300,000 in drugs and cash seized, along with a loaded gun for protection against rivals. The scope of the trafficking operation makes it all the more horrifying that it used as cover a fully operational day care center."

 

DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell stated, “Today’s arrests were made on the worst level of drug traffickers, those that consciously put innocent children and their families in harm’s way. These traffickers used the Fun World Childcare as a front for drug trafficking while simultaneously endangering the lives of innocent children and their hard working parents. I commend the men and women of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force for their dedication to duty and protecting our city’s children and their families from these traffickers who intentionally put children in jeopardy to avoid detection by law enforcement.”         

 

New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico said, “These arrests bring to light the length at which dealers will go, to try to protect their illegal activity. The use of a child day care center as cover for a drug operation brought the dangerous world of the drug trade to our most unsuspecting and vulnerable citizens. It is through the continued partnership with members of the New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force that we are able to successfully weed out these dealers and prevent their drugs and drug related violence from spilling into our communities.”

 

“The arrests announced today not only disrupt a cocaine and illegal pharmaceutical pill distribution network,” said James T. Hayes Jr., Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York.  ”They also preserve the safety of the young children of the community who were put at risk by the defendants’ reckless behavior.” 

Miracle at The Alter

Man Survives Shooting at St. Brenden's

By David Greene

 

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER12- Call it divine intervention. A despondent male who attempted suicide inside a house of worship has been given a second chance-- after shooting himself in the chest.

 

Police officers from the 52nd Precinct responded to a call of gunfire inside the Church of St. Brendan's at 260 E. 207 Street at Perry Avenue in Norwood, at 8:15 a.m., on Friday, September 6.

 

Police and EMS sources say the victim was discovered at the alter with a hole in his chest. The weapon, a .45 caliber pistol lay nearby.

 

The still unidentified 53-year-old man was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he remains in serious, but stable condition.

 

Investigators believe the man, who was possibly homeless, had entered the church the day before. A police spokeswoman stated, "It appears that he hid himself before it was closed."

 

The church remained closed the entire day as police officials conducted the investigation, completed sometime around 10 p.m. Parishioners were allowed to pray in the lower church on the E. 206 Street side.

 

Detectives were showing a photo of the man to the staff and members of the church, who arrived to find crime scene tape across the front door and a sign instructing members to enter around the corner.

 

One church member offered, "It's a minor miracle. The fact that he did it in a church means he's a believer." The elderly woman, who did not want to give her name, added, "Now he has a second chance."

 

The church re-opened in time for a noon mass on Saturday.

 

Repeated calls to the Church of St. Brendan's were not returned as was a request for comment from the Archdiocese of New York.

 

Founded in 1908, Archbishop John Farley named his new church in honor of the Irish navigator.

Bandit Makes Off With $400K and No One Sees Anything

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bandit Makes Off With $400K and No One Sees Anythi...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Bandit Makes Off With $400K and No One Sees Anythi...: See No Evil Guards Left the Truck Running? By Dan Gesslein BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 12- Why didn’t they just hand him over the $400,00...

Bandit Makes Off With $400K and No One Sees Anything

See No Evil

Guards Left the Truck Running?

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 12- Why didn’t they just hand him over the $400,000? Police are searching for a Bronx man who took $400Gs from an empty armored car that was parked with the engine running.

The bizarre heist happened in broad daylight on July 30 on Fordham Road and no one seems to have witnessed anything unusual. Police released surveillance video taken from the armored truck’s cameras. In the video the man is seen in a gray hoodie walking down Fordham Road. Without a uniform and covered up he enters the truck which had the engine running. The robber drives the armored car around the corner on Valentine Avenue.

In the next piece of video, the hoodied man is seen carrying a large, bulky red bag through the streets until his getaway vehicle arrives. Cops say he fled in a silver SUV. 

Anyone with information should call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. 

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers' website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Mustang mistakes seal their fate

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Mustang mistakes seal their fate: Dean takes home opener, 33-23 By Gary Axelbank BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 11- T wo pick-sixes and two safeties tell you what you need to ...