Wakefield News

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Wakefield News: Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying

Wakefield News: Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying: Residents on Edge as Bloody Mayhem Continues By David Greene BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- The NYPD's own statistics show t...

Summer’s Over But Bullets Still Flying

Residents on Edge as Bloody Mayhem Continues

By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 4- The NYPD's own statistics show that the city is on pace to have the lowest murder rate in the last 50 years, but that offers little comfort to family members of those killed or wounded by the almost daily, random street violence.

Detectives are still hunting the gunman who shot and killed Raymond Hernandez, 22, who was shot in the hallway of 2860 Grand Concourse on July 15.

On August 3, officers from the 46th Precinct reported a person shot and killed at 2377 Creston Avenue. Police were looking for two black males seen fleeing the scene.

Kahleed Adams had returned to the ruff and tumble streets of Fordham Heights where he was shot in the buttocks a week earlier. At 12:30 a.m. on August 19, he was approached by a group of men at E. 184 Street and Morris Avenue, when someone opened fire, striking Adams in the head.

Despite being in full view of an NYPD surveillance camera, installed after Adams was shot the first time, detectives continue to hunt for the young man's killer.

But the most blood-spilling, effecting the most people are the random acts of violence that often go unreported. Information can now be found on social media websites as the community seems to be trying to keep itself informed, but rumors continue to be almost as big a problem as the violence itself.

Officers from the 52nd Precinct responded to calls of a person stabbed at 12:10 a.m. on August 3. The victim was reportedly stabbed at the intersection of Morris Avenue and E. Kingsbridge Road. Police were looking for a black male wearing a white and gray shirt and dark jeans.

At 7 p.m. on August 4, a livery taxi driver was stabbed in the chest an neck as he sat behind the wheel at Bainbridge Avenue and E. Fordham Road. An unidentified resident of the block reportedly tossed a large rock at the car, causing the suspect to flee the stolen car.

Police reportedly discovered Luis Ferrierra, 22, hiding in a backyard. He has since been charged with felony assault and robbery--his eighth arrest for 2013.

When asked about the member of the community tossing the rock, one resident responded, "This area is flooded with crack and crime and I think the residents are fed up with it already."

Residents near PS 8 at Mosholu Parkway South and Bainbridge Avenue reported hearing shots during the night of Friday, August 9.. Residents awoke the following morning to discover a bloody park bench. So far the incident remains a mystery.

At just before 11 p.m. on Sunday, August 11, a person was reported shot at E. Gun Hill Road and Decatur Avenue. However, this incident could not be confirmed.

Police say it was a drug dealer who shot a potential customer on August 13, outside of 2685 Valentine Avenue in Bedford Park. The 31-year old victim was shot in the left hand and right thigh and was treated and released from Jacobi Hospital.

That gunman was described as a male wearing a white shirt and blue hat.

On August 15, Yonkers police were apparently in pursuit of a vehicle that crashed as it exited the Major Deegan near the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course, the armed suspect reportedly fired at least one shot at pursuing officers before making an escape into the woods.

On August 16 three people were shot over the period of two-hours. At 12:15 a.m. a victim was discovered inside of a building at 2725 Webb Avenue. The 19-year old victim had been shot in the hand and leg and was expected to survive.

Residents of the Fordham Manor block that intersects with W. Kingsbridge Road don't even flinch when they hear gunshots anymore. The block has had two other recent shooting's. A 51-year old man was shot in the arm back in April and two men were shot outside of a bodega on July 28.

Police were still looking for the gunman in the July 28 case, described as wearing all red and carrying a black plastic bag.

Forty-five minutes later officer's from the 46th Precinct in Fordham were called to another 24-hour deli at 375 E. 188 Street. The victim in that shooting was transported by a civilian vehicle to Jacobi Hospital and was also recovering.

At just before 2 a.m., a man was wounded outside of 2258 Grand Avenue in University Heights. The 25-year old victim suffered a gunshot to the right leg and was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital where he was treated and released.

EMS reported the transport of a stabbing victim from the intersection of the Grand Concourse and E. 197 Street at just before 10 p.m. on August 17.

At some time after 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 18, a man was shot in the leg outside of 275 E. Gun Hill Road. The unidentified victim was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition. Police were reportedly looking for two male Hispanics who fled the scene.

Recently police did announce an arrest in the May 29 shooting of Alex Rodriguez, who was shot in the head at the intersection of E. 184 Street and Tiebout Avenue in Fordham Heights. Rodriguez died after being taken off life support.

Jamie DeJesus has been charged with manslaughter in the case.

Outspoken Bedford Park resident Ron James Sorenson who was shot as a young man as he drove a livery taxi in the South Bronx back in the late 1960's, recently stated about the judge's recent decision to re-evaluate the NYPD's stop-and-frisk, offering, "None of these people who are against stop-and-frisk have ever been shot. I have and I think the practice saves lives."

Despite the recent surge in killing, NYPD statistics show murder is down over the same time period as last year. So far this year there were 42 homicides in the Bronx, compared with 68 last year.

Community Board # 7 is still in a transition as it's new District Manager Socrates Caba and Chairperson Adaline Walker-Santiago are in the process of taking over the day to day operations of the board. But a blind man can see they have their work cut out for them.

Anyone with any information on any violent crime are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Wakefield News: Ramarley Graham: The next sad chapter

Wakefield News: Ramarley Graham: The next sad chapter: COMMUNITY BOARD NEWS N’ VIEWS By Father Richard F. Gorman Chairman Community Board #12 (The Bronx) BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST...

Ramarley Graham: The next sad chapter

COMMUNITY BOARD

NEWS N’ VIEWS

Father Richard F. Gorman

Chairman

Community Board #12 (The Bronx)

BRONX, NEW YORK, AUGUST 14- On the 15th of May this year, Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven L. Barrett, after hearing evidence in the trial of Police Officer Richard Haste for manslaughter in the shooting of Ramarley Graham on 2 February 2012, ruled that the indictment of Officer Haste was dismissed in light of the improper instructions given to the grand

jury that had voted to indict the Forty-seventh Precinct cop.

Justice Barrett decided that the grand jury may have come to a different decision if its members had fully considered that Officer Haste’s fellow Police Officers had informed him that Ramarley Graham was armed. The grand jury had been directed by prosecutors in the Office of the District Attorney of Bronx County not to give any weight to this fact in considering whether or not to indict Officer Haste. A second grand jury was quickly empanelled to weigh a re-indictment of the Police Officer and was clearly told this time to take into account that Richard Haste was warned that Mr. Graham possibly had a gun.

On Wednesday, 7 August 2013, this second grand jury declined to present a second indictment of Police Officer Haste for manslaughter. Understandably, the family of Ramarley Graham, most particularly his parents, Constance Malcolm and Franclot Graham, reacted with great indignation and resentment to the ruling of this second grand jury.

Among other actions undertaken, there was a rally this Saturday afternoon past, 11 August 2013, on Laconia Avenue directly in front of the main entrance of the Forty-seventh Police Precinct to which Officer Haste and his colleagues involved in this tragic incident had been assigned.

Reflecting on this serious and sad matter that has held such a foremost place in the recent life of Bronx Community District #12, I would like to share a few thoughts and feelings with my neighbors and fellow Bronxites. First, and most importantly of all, irrespective of any legal issues at argument or of any personal opinions concerning the parties to this matter, the shooting of Ramarley Graham is a tragedy. A young man is dead. The facts that may have led up to it aside, the loss of any human life always involves pain, always entails grief. Ramarley Graham’s Parents and other loved ones are now deprived of his presence and his company. As I said, whatever else that can and

should be said about this unhappy episode, let us not forget or be

insensitive to the human cost at stake, not only to the young man who is dead but to those who must survive and go on in the wake of his passing. The loss of a loved one is always a heartache that is practically unbearable to abide and to accept.

Our sympathy and compassion must not be absent or withheld from those who mourn. Further, I can likewise understand the frustration of the Graham Family and others who question the vitality and the veracity of a legal system that appears not be working on behalf of their interests and needs. There is no argument, even from those involved in law enforcement and the judicial process, that our system of laws and courts is far from perfect. It definitely has its defects. It also depends upon the work of people, folks just like the rest of us, who work hard and honestly and who attempt to do the best that they can with the resources allocated to them. People are not perfect. The only two perfect human persons ever to walk the face of this earth, so far as I know, are Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother. All the rest of us have our weaknesses, shortcomings, and flaws. No system, judicial or otherwise, reliant upon people can be any more perfect that the people who comprise it.

This being said, while not unflawed or unfaultable, our system of laws and courts is the envy of the entire world. It may not always get the job done or accomplish things as we would wish, but, more often than not, it works. Moreover, realizing that mistakes can and are in actuality made, it provides for appeals and various means by which one can seek justice and pursue the satisfaction of one’s cause. In the immediate case of Ramarley Graham, his Parents can, and have been successful in seeking, a review of what has taken place in The Bronx by the United States Department of Justice (U.S.D.O.J.). The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York has determined that it will investigate whether or not the shooting of Ramarley Graham violates any provisions of our Federal Civil Rights laws. Additionally, the possibility of a civil action on behalf of the Graham Family can be instituted. Reports are that such an option is seriously being pondered at this time. If feasible, a civil cause of action should be introduced.

However, in the upset and unrest of the moment, let us not fail to

remember an equally important truth -- viz., that the members of the New York City Police Department (N.Y.P.D.) are, by and large, truly “NEW YORK’S FINEST.” You and I are able to live comfortably in our homes, shop on our commercial strips, pray in our Churches, have our children educated in our schools, and live in relative safety because of the dedication of the men and the women of the N.Y.P.D. Even as they were preparing to accommodate the Graham Family’s decision to have a demonstration in front of the Forty-seventh Precinct on Saturday, the Supervisors and the Officers of the “4 -7” and Patrol Borough Bronx (P.B.B.X.) were investigating a murder a mere stone’s throw away from the Precinct on the intersection of East 233RD Street and Paulding Avenue. Is New York City -- and Community Board #12 (The Bronx) -- safer than was the case ten years ago? ABSOLUTELY . . . . . and the most significant factor in this development was the commitment of our Police Officers to serve and to protect us, even at the cost of their own personal safety, physical well being, and life.

This essential point must be borne in mind as well, even as the adjudication of the Ramarley Graham shooting continues. I conclude by expressing genuine thanks to Franclot Graham, Constance Malcolm, and their supporters for the peaceful and dignified manner in which they conducted themselves this Saturday past. I trust that they know that they have been, are, and will always remain uppermost in our thoughts and prayers. I likewise give thanks for the fine and professional performance of our Police Officers. My special appreciation goes to Assistant Chief Carlos Gomez, Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Bronx (P.B.B.X.) and his leadership team for their presence and thoughtful attention during some rather difficult days.

Closer to home, my hat is off to Deputy Inspector Brian Mullen, Commanding Officer of the Forty-seventh Precinct, and all of our local Police Officers for their sensitive care and comportment, in particular our Community Affairs Officers Dave Belle and Jason Soto.

I pray that all in Community Board #12 (The Bronx), as we continue to face the challenges of each day, will continue to act with calm dignity and to strive for peace in our neighborhood.

Until next time, that is it for this time!