QUEENS, N.Y. — An off-duty employee with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development was arrested Thursday evening in Queens for driving without a valid license, police said.
Edwig Cooman, 52, was taken into custody at 5:22 p.m. within the confines of the NYPD’s 116th Precinct, which covers southeastern neighborhoods including Rosedale and Laurelton.
Cooman was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree and operating a vehicle with no license plate, according to police.
The incident involved a private vehicle, and Cooman was not engaged in official city duties at the time of his arrest, authorities said. No injuries or additional violations were reported.
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development, where Cooman is employed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the arrest.
Key points
- Edwig Cooman, 52, was arrested Thursday in the 116th Precinct area
- He faces charges of driving with a suspended license and no plate
- Cooman is an off-duty employee with NYC Housing Preservation and Development
Employee faces misdemeanor charge
Aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree is a misdemeanor under New York State law and typically applies to individuals who operate a vehicle with a license that has been suspended for non-criminal reasons, such as failure to pay a fine.