That’s One Crazy Fare

I am no legal expert, but couldn’t they hold onto the alleged cabbie slasher until he goes to trial? If I remember the story correctly, the guy tried to stab to death a NYC cabbie just because he said he was a Muslim. I, for one, do not feel any safer knowing that this guy is out about the city enjoying leisurely walks and hailing other cabs, even if he is wearing an electronic ankle bracelet so they can track him!

The article says he paid $500,000 in bail to get out of jail. But if this isn’t a case where bail should be denied to protect the public, then what is?

N.Y. / Region
City Room: Student Accused of Slashing Cabby Released on $500,000 Bail
By By ANDY NEWMAN and JOHN ELIGON
Published: October 19, 2010
Michael Enright refused to answer questions as he left the courthouse.

New York Makes Safest Cities List

 

One of the safest cities in the US, again.

 

Amazing! For a city this size to be up there in the top ten with these other places around the country, according to Forbes’ latest list:  America’s Safest Cities

Truly a fantastic accomplishment. The crime rate in New York is at 1950’s levels I believe. I guess we have more of a chance of being ht by a tornado (or hail) then being mugged anymore. Boy, how times have changed:

Multiple Personalities

Isn’t it interesting how different Forest Hills can be from one day to the next?

Last night, we had helicopters buzzing overhead as a disturbed man went slashing people with a razor blade on Austin. While today, on a crisp, Autumnal morning it’s as if that never happened. We have a family-friendly street fair on Austin going on in the same place as last night’s craziness.

‘Cat Woman’ Robber Nabbed

Police say they have caught the woman who robbed several stores in the City while wearing a cat mask. Shanna Spalding, a 28-year-old resident of Woodside, has not yet been charged with the robberies here in Forest Hills of the Nine West and The Body Shop, but those may be included soon.

Here are a couple of links to more information:

• From NY1 News: Police Say They Have Nabbed “Catwoman Robber”
• And from The Wall Street Journal: Death Metal Singer Charged in ‘Cat Woman’ Robberies

More on Alleged Co-Op Theft

Another good article about the case of the local co-op manager charged with embezzlement and grand larceny: Forest Hills Times – Managing Agent Charged in $950,000 Queens Co-Op Scandal

Local Co-Op Manager Arrested

The article, from Habitat, says Michael Richter of Charter Management Realty, who managed The Majestic Tenants Corporation located at 110-20 71st Avenue in Forest Hills among other buildings, has been charged with grand larceny and embezzlement.

Cops bust ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ bank robbers – NYPOST.com

Some bank robbery action in town yesterday, but apparently the police have nabbed the bad guys:

Cops bust ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ bank robbers – NYPOST.com.

Forest Hills News Update

Some local news of interest:

The Daily News reports that the owners of a dilapidated home at 93-07 69th Ave. are being taken to court. The City recently deemed it an “unsafe building.” The owners have been using it for storage. http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2010/07/07/2010-07-07_owner_of_trashed_forest_hills_house_faces_hearing.html

And the Heat Wave is pushing the power grid to the limit. There have been outages in Forest Hills, and now Con Ed is reducing the voltage to parts of the area. http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/121672/heat-pushes-power-grid-to-the-limit

‘Cat Woman’ Thief on the Prowl

First the Russian spies exchanging secrets at our LIRR station and now a woman wearing a cat mask making off with $500 from The Body Shop on Austin? As the saying goes, ‘You can’t make this stuff up.’

But yes, it’s true. The NYPD is asking if anyone recognizes the person in this video. She is accused of robbing The Body Shop here in Forest Hills and also an Arche shoe store in the East Village. She is reported to be in her 20s, 5’6″ and 115 lbs and may be of Middle Eastern descent. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477).

Moscow on Austin

It’s always interesting living here in Forest Hills, ain’t it? So today we learn our LIRR station was the scene of secret Russian spy exchanges. 

From The NY Post: “Metzos turned over an orange bag of cash to a Russian government official in May 2004 when they passed one another on a stairway at the Forest Hills LIRR stop. Other hand-overs and meetings between spies occurred in coffee shops in midtown and Fort Greene, Brooklyn, a Sunnyside, Queens restaurant and a subway entrance at Columbus Circle.”

And I always thought those were local kids blocking my way as I tried to walk up the steps!

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/us_nabs_russians_accused_of_spying_5rbFZJrbLkgnRoXrJ5HlzL#ixzz0sCd8DxCl

More from today’s Times: “Secret exchanges were made at busy locations like the Long Island Railroad’s station in Forest Hills, Queens, where F.B.I. watchers in 2004 spotted one defendant who is still not in custody, Christopher R. Metzos, the charging papers say.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/world/europe/29spy.html

By the way, didn’t the Cold War end a long time ago?