NYC– On Thursday, a 15-year-old female was the victim of a robbery while riding the MTA BX 41 bus. As the bus stopped at the intersection of Park Avenue and Melrose Avenue at around 4:00 PM, an unidentified male approached her and forcibly took her necklace.
The suspect then exited the bus and was last observed heading westbound on East 165 Street.
The suspect is a male with a light complexion and a slim build. He was wearing a black jacket, a dark hooded sweatshirt, and ripped blue jeans. The victim was not harmed during the incident.
- Teen Reported Missing in Queens
The New York City Police Department is requesting the public's help to find Anihya Rivera, a 14-year-old White Hispanic girl reported missing from her home in Queens. Anihya was last seen at her residence at 59-56 56 Road within the 104 Precinct on Thursday, June 13, 2024, around 7:04 PM.
Anihya is described as having brown eyes and black hair. She stands about 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs approximately 100 pounds. When last seen, she was wearing a white shirt, a black sweater, and black and white sneakers.
The NYPD has released media of the missing teenager and is urging anyone with information about Anihya's whereabouts to come forward to assist in her safe return.
- New York City Cop Arrested for DUI
An off-duty NYPD officer, Marlaine Cleveland, was arrested early Saturday morning for allegedly operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The 43-year-old officer was taken into custody at 3:06 AM within the confines of the 69th Precinct in Brooklyn.
Officer Cleveland, who is employed by the New York City Police Department, now faces charges related to impaired driving.
Marlaine Cleveland, the NYPD officer recently arrested for driving under the influence, has been with the force since July 2012. Currently assigned to the 106th Precinct, she has been active there since October 2022 and has previously served at the Intelligence Bureau and Patrol Borough Queens South.
Officer Cleveland, 43, has a service badge number 27796 and earned a salary of $99,400 last year. She has faced disciplinary actions in the past, with two substantiated allegations of abuse of authority from a single complaint in June 2013, involving a refusal to provide her name and shield number, and issuing a retaliatory summons.
Both allegations led to command disciplines, with the NYPD concluding that corrective instructions were sufficient.
The NYPD has not released additional details about the circumstances leading to Cleveland’s arrest. The case is expected to proceed through the legal system where the specific details and the evidence gathered will be further examined.
- Syracuse Police Seize Three Illegally Operated ATVs in Citywide Crackdown
SYRACUSE, NY — The Syracuse Police Department's ATV Detail successfully removed three illegally operated ATVs from public spaces on Thursday, underscoring their ongoing efforts to address this issue within the city. The operation led to three arrests, including one individual charged with the possession of a stolen Honda dirt bike from Fulton County.
The police department is maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards the illegal operation of ATVs in city parks and on public roadways. Offenders caught in such acts will face arrest and a local law violation charge, which includes a $500 fine for first-time offenders and additional significant redemption fees.
The Syracuse Police expressed gratitude towards the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office for their collaboration and the support provided by their Air One unit during the operation. The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance safety and enforce local laws strictly concerning ATV use in Syracuse.
- Shooting Victim Leaves Baltimore Hospital Before Police Arrived
BALTIMORE, MD — Early Friday morning, Baltimore Police responded to reports of a shooting victim at a local hospital, only to find that the individual had already left the facility. The initial call came in at about 6:15 a.m.
Shortly after, at approximately 6:45 a.m., police were dispatched to the 7000 block of McClean Boulevard following another shooting report. Upon arrival, officers found a 34-year-old man with a graze wound to his arm. The victim stated the shooting incident occurred around 12:30 a.m.
Northeastern District detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The police are urging anyone with information related to this case to come forward and contact them at 410-396-2444 as the investigation continues.
- New Jersey Man Gets Maximum Sentence in Cat Torturing Case
FREEHOLD, NJ — Bani J. Mezquititla, a 19-year-old from Asbury Park, has been sentenced to five years in state prison after being found guilty of torturing and killing his pet cat. The sentencing occurred on Thursday, as announced by Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.
The court also ordered Mezquititla to pay for the necropsy of the cat and issued a permanent ban preventing him from owning, residing with, or having custody over any animals. The ruling was handed down by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Chad N. Cagan.
The investigation into Mezquititla began in March 2023 after a concerned citizen reported the deceased cat to the Asbury Park Police. Authorities, including the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Humane Law Enforcement Division, found that Mezquititla had sexually abused the cat and subjected it to further acts of torture leading to its death.
Following his arrest on the day the investigation started, Mezquititla has been held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. In April, he pleaded guilty to third-degree crimes of animal cruelty by tormenting, torturing, or cruelly abusing a living animal, resulting in its death, and using an animal in a sexual manner.
Prosecutor Santiago described the case as reflecting "greater depths of depravity" and highlighted the sentence as one of the most substantial penalties for such an offense in New Jersey's history. He expressed hopes that this outcome would satisfy the community and those nationwide who demanded justice for the animal, known as Ellie.
- State Investigating Suspect Death After Two Cops Shot in New Jersey
TRENTON, NJ — The New Jersey Attorney General's Office has initiated an investigation into a fatal police shooting that took place in the early hours of Thursday in Woodbridge Township's Fords section.
The incident began on Wednesday when Edison Police were alerted by an Automated License Plate Reader about a vehicle linked to a serious shooting in New York City. This vehicle was subsequently located unoccupied at the Royal Albert’s Palace hotel on King Georges Post Road in Woodbridge. New York City Police Department detectives joined the scene to assist with the investigation.
During a civilian interview at the hotel, around 12:21 a.m. Thursday, gunfire erupted as the person of interest from the NYPD’s investigation emerged from an elevator. The preliminary report indicates that the suspect reached into a backpack, prompting an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement. The suspect and two police officers were struck during the shootout.
The injured, including one Woodbridge Police Department officer and one NYPD detective, received immediate medical attention and were transported to a hospital in New Brunswick. They have since been discharged and are reported to be in stable condition.
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, and a handgun was recovered alongside evidence from multiple firearms. The ongoing investigation will further analyze the circumstances and the evidence collected at the scene.