Woman Fatally Struck on Woodhaven Boulevard

Hit While Crossing Mid-Block in Rego Park

By Conor Greene

A 32-year-old woman was struck by a car and killed while trying to cross Woodhaven Boulevard on Tuesday morning in Rego Park.

The woman, who has not been identified by police, was attempting to cross the busy stretch of road between 62nd Drive and 63rd Avenue – about a half mile south of the Long Island Expressway – at about 6:30 a.m., according to police. She was crossing mid-block and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Several hours later, the woman remained in the left lane of the boulevard’s northbound side, covered with a white sheet. She had landed about eight feet in front of the 2000 Mercedes Benz, and one of her shoes, which had been knocked off by the impact, sat beneath the car’s crumpled front end. Police say the driver remained at the scene and is not expected to be charged. Traffic backed up as the boulevard’s northbound lanes remained closed hours after the accident.

The accident comes as the city is studying ways to make the boulevard safer for drivers and pedestrians. Several residents at the scene said that drivers speed up as they near the expressway and rush to beat traffic lights.

Officer Recovering from Tire Iron Attack

Beat Near Queensboro Bridge While Off-Duty

An NYPD officer assigned to the 112th Precinct continues to recover at Manhattan hospital after he was savagely beaten with a tire iron during a road rage incident two weeks ago.

Officer Damian Bartels, 28, was struck repeatedly in the face by a group of three men who had cut him off at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge on August 29, according to police and neighbors. The officer, assigned to the Forest Hills stationhouse, was coming home from Manhattan at about 3:30 a.m. with his girlfriend when the incident occurred.

Bartels was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell, where he underwent 11 hours of surgery last Friday to rebuild his nose, jaw and eye sockets. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly visited with the officer and his family following the operation.

According to a neighbor and congregant at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, the officer’s family is hopeful that Bartels will recover and didn’t lose his eyesight.

A $2,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the three suspects, who fled the scene after the attack. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crimestoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Precincts to Celebrate Night Out Against Crime

Police precincts across the city, and the nation, will celebrate the annual Night Out Against Crime event on Tuesday. Free events for the entire family are planned for local parks, including within the 104th, 112th and 106th precincts.

The 112th Precinct, covering Forest Hills and Rego Park, is hosting a celebration at MacDonald Park from 6 to 9 p.m. The park is located across from the Forest Hills Post Office, but in the event of rain the event will be moved inside the Forest Hills Jewish Center, announced Heidi Harrison Chain, president of the precinct’s community council.

The event celebrates the partnership between the city’s police force and the community and is also “a great opportunity for our community to thank the NYPD for their efforts on our behalf in reducing crime,” said Chain. “Crime is down and our officers help us improve our quality of life.”

Events at MacDonald Park include a showcase of local talents, featuring local artists who will display their paintings, crafts, photos and other items. To participate, contact the precinct community council at council112@yahoo.com. There will also be entertainment provided by a DJ and demonstrations by a local karate school.

Officers from the 112th Precinct will provide the public with safety information and Transit District 20 officials will discuss subway safety. The FDNY and other city agencies are expected to also take part in the event, as will the Forest Hills – Rego Park CERT team. Businesses that are interested in participating can contact the community council or call the precinct’s Community Affairs Unit at (718) 520-9321.

The 104th Precinct, covering Maspeth, Ridgewood, Glendale and Middle Village, is hosting its event in Mafera Park, located at 65th Place and 68th Avenue from 5 to 9 p.m. Activities for the entire family, including children, will be provided. For details, contact the precinct’s Community Affairs Unit at (718) 386-2431.

The 106th Precinct, covering Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Lindenwood and South Richmond Hill, will hold its Night Out Against Crime at Tudor Park from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The park is located along 133rd Avenue off 80th Street in Tudor Village.

There will be entertainment and free giveaways for everyone and children’s events. Officer Paul Ciccarella will be on hand to do free automobile windshield VIN etching, as well as etching iPods, cell phones and bicycles. Anyone interested in having their valuables etched must call him at (718) 845-2223 with your vehicle registration information prior to the event so the officer can file the proper paperwork.

Arrest in Murder of Forest Hills Man

Suspect in 65th Ave Crime Nabbed in Massachusetts

A Bronx man was taken into custody in Massachusetts and charged in the murder of a Forest Hills man found dead in his apartment last week.

The nude body of 38-year-old Michael Pecora was found late last Wednesday inside his apartment on 65th Avenue. The gruesome discovery was made by the building super, who climbed onto the fire escape to gain access to the apartment after Pecora’s family and co-workers became concerned about his well-being after he didn’t show up for work.

After seeing Pecora’s lifeless body through a window, the super immediately called police, according to reports. Officers entered the apartment and found Pecora with multiple stab wounds. There were no signs of forced entry at the blood-soaked crime scene.

Last Thursday, police arrested Alexys Fermaintt, 30, of East Tremont after investigators tracked him to his mother’s house in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He was arraigned last Friday in Queens Criminal Court and ordered held without bail. He is due back in court on July 2 to face charges of second-degree murder.

Police linked Fermaintt to the crime after learning that a cab driver had picked him up Wednesday night outside Pecora’s apartment and drove him to the Bronx. While en route, Fermaintt told the driver he didn’t have any money and offered him a watch and cell phone instead. The cab driver later told police that he remembered the passenger carrying an item resembling a computer when he exited the cab.

Investigators then used information from the cell phone to track down a relative of Fermaintt, who was later taken into custody without incident. Pecora’s computer was found in another Holyoke apartment that police believe is Fermaintt’s primary home. Police are investigating the theory the men met online and that Fermaintt stole the computer in an effort to cover his tracks.

Pecora was a graduate of the University of Tampa and worked for MasterCard. His neighbors described him as a good man and expressed shock that such a brutal crime occurred in the quiet neighborhood. “I feel sick because [he was] such a nice young fellow,” one resident told reporters. “Very, very nice guy. I feel sorry for him,” said another.

Update: On Thursday, the Queens District Attorney's Office release information regarding statements Fermaintt allegedly made to investigators in Massachusetts following his arrest.

According to a Notice of Statement filed with the court at Fermaintt's arraignment, he told a detective that he met Pecora online and the pair had a disagreement over the amount of money that Pecora was going to give Fermaintt to sleep with him and spend the day together. Fermaintt then admitted in the videotaped statement to stabbing Pecora and taking his cellphone, computer and watch.

Fermaintt later told another detective that Pecora had grabbed a knife and tried to stab him, at which time Fermaintt grabbed the knife and stabbed the victim four times.

Crime Down in 112th Precinct

By Conor Greene

Residents at Tuesday night’s Forest Hills Community and Civic Association meeting were updated on local crime by Officer Gigi Redzematovic of the 112th Precinct’s Community Affairs Unit. She reported “very, very good” news regarding major crimes so far this year, with decreases in every category. So far, the precinct is down 19% compared with the same time last year and 8.5% for the past 28 day period.

With the weather getting nicer, Officer Redzematovic reminded that “the opportunity for criminals to do what they need to do goes up” as residents began leaving windows unlocked. She urged residents to always lock their doors and windows, especially if they are inside the home but preoccupied with tasks such as laundry or showering. She also urged homeowners to check their outdoor lighting and to have a neighbor collect the mail and check on the home when you go on vacation. She reminded residents to immediately call 911 if they notice suspicious activity. “We can’t do it without you guys,” she said.

A resident asked about the status of the investigation into a rape that occurred at the intersection of Queens Boulevard and 69th Road at about 4:45 a.m. on May 20. Officer Redzematovic said police “are still looking for the person” and asked residents to be “careful of everything around you” while walking around the city. “I’m not saying it’s not safe in Forest Hills or Rego Park, but you never know.”

According to police, a Hispanic woman in her 20s was followed after leaving the subway station by a man who dragged her to the rear of an apartment building and attacked her. The suspect is a black male between 40 and 50 years old, about 5 feet 7inches tall, with a medium build.

Another resident complained that her driveway is constantly blocked by construction vehicles parking on residential streets new the new school site on Metropolitan Avenue. She said that it took 24 hours for an officer to respond after she called 311. “They used to come within an hour and with all the city needs I was surprised” she said of the delay. She asked if the procedure for having illegally parked cars ticketed and towed has changed, as it used to only take several hours.

Civic President Barbara Stuchinski said that they have eight hours to respond after a complaint is filed. “But don’t believe it,” she said, as it has taken as long as three days for officers to respond to her own complaints. Another resident who has had three cars ticketed and two towed from in front of his home near 69th Road and Sybilla Street said he has “given up on calling 311” and now contacts the 112th Precinct directly, which “works great.” By going that route, he said, an officer generally responds in about 20 minutes.

Finally, the officer informed residents about several upcoming events. This Saturday night, the third annual Relay for Life will be held at the West Side Tennis Club in support of cancer research. The event goes overnight and ends on Sunday morning. In addition, Austin Street will be closed for much of Sunday for a street fair, so drivers are urged to avoid that area.

The precinct’s Crime Prevention Unit is offering Vehicle Identification Number etching at the Home Depot parking lot from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. No appointment is necessary, and having the VIN number etched onto your car window will help deter thieves, said Officer Redzematovic. Anyone is welcome to take advantage of this free service; however, the event will be canceled in the event of rain.

Guilty Verdicts in Forest Hills Dentist Murder

VICTIM’S WIFE AND GUNMAN FACE LIFE IN PRISON

By Conor Greene

It took a jury less than one day to find a Forest Hills doctor and her distant relative guilty of conspiracy murder in the death of the woman’s ex-husband, who was gunned down in front of the couple’s young daughter following a bitter custody battle.

Mazoltuv Borukhova, 33, and her cousin by marriage, Mikhail Mallayev, 51, were found guilty on Tuesday of first-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy in the October 2007 shooting of Dr. Daniel Malakov following a five-week trial in Queens Supreme Court. The pair now faces up to life in prison when they are sentenced on April 21.

Malakov, 34, who had just won custody of the couple’s daughter, was fatally shot at pointblank range while bringing four-year-old Michelle to Annadale Playground to visit her mother. Jurors believed prosecutor Brad Leventhal’s contention that Borukhova paid Mallayev about $20,000 to murder Malakov, who had recently won custody of Michelle.

After the verdict was announced Tuesday afternoon, members of the victim’s family walked out of the courthouse with arms raised over their heads. One proclaimed, “God bless America.”

“They thought that my brother was their problem and they thought by eliminating him they could fix their problems,” the victim’s brother, Joseph Malakov, told reporters. “But what did she accomplish? She didn’t accomplish anything. She created all this unnecessary pain for everybody.”

Police connected Mallayev to the shooting after matching fingerprints from a homemade silencer found at the scene to his, which were on file from a previous arrest. In the three weeks leading up to the shooting, Mallayev and Borukhova had 90 telephone conversations, during which time authorities say they planned the murder. Following the murder, the pair met in Borukhova’s Forest Hills medical office before Mallayev deposited $19,800 into 10 different bank accounts.

Mallayev was arrested in November 2007 at his home outside Atlanta and Borukhova was charged in February after a grand jury charged both in the murder. “They are still living… but my son is not living. It is very hard for me,” said the victim’s father, Khaika Malakov said. “I don’t care about her life now.”

“Daniel Malakov looked to the law for justice when it came to gaining custody of his young daughter several years ago,” said District Attorney Richard Brown. “Today, the judicial system was there once again to ensure justice for Daniel as prosecutors made sure that those guilty of his murder were held accountable for their actions – actions that intentionally cut short a life filled with much promise and robbed a daughter of a father she hardly had the opportunity to know.”

During the trial, Borukhova testified in her own defense, maintaining that she did not hear the two gunshots, even though she was standing just ten feet away. Mallayev did not take the stand.

A major point in the case came when school teacher Cheryl Springfield testified that she saw Mallayev shoot Malakov while she was walking her dog near the park. She provided police with a description of the shooter, which was used to create a sketch, and then picked him out of a lineup before identifying him in court as the killer. Members of Borukhova’s family declined comment as they left the courthouse following the verdict.

In a press conference in his offices following the verdict, Brown touched on the strain the sensational case has had on the tight-knit Bukharian community of Forest Hills and Rego Park, and on the lasting impact the murder will have on little Michelle.

“Today’s verdict cannot heal the wounds suffered by the child – perhaps nothing ever can,” said Brown. “Nor can it heal those of the family of Dr. Malakov who lost his life so tragically. I hope, however, it that it will bring some closure to the Bukharian community and that it will enable them to begin to bridge the divide that has formed as a result of what has occurred.

“I believe that it is fair to say that justice has been served – although the child at the center of this case will probably never recover from having witnessed that which occurred or from the custody fight that to this day remains unresolved,” added Brown.

Following the murder of her father and arrest of her mother, Michelle has been placed in the care of a paternal uncle.

Photos by Michael O'Kane. Top: DA Brown discusses the verdict with reporters; while members of Borukhova's family leave court without comment (left).

Rego Park Teen Charged in Stabbing

A Rego Park teenager was arrested for stabbing and punching a man during a street robbery along the south side of Queens Boulevard at 66th Avenue, but his accomplices remain at large.

Alexander Dediashvili, 16, of 99th Street was arrested shortly after stabbing and robbing 27-year-old Khaimov Ribikhay in front of 100-11 Queens Boulevard on November 8, according to Officer Christopher Kingsley of the 112th Precinct. Along with several other suspects who fled the scene, he approached the victim with a knife and began punching and kicking him in the face and body, said police.

During the attack, Dediashvili told the victim that he would stab, shoot and kill him, according to a criminal complaint. As his cohorts ripped the victim’s chain off his neck and grabbed his wallet, Dediashvili stabbed his hand and knocked several of his teeth out.

The victim was taken to Jamaica Hospital for treatment for his injuries, which also included welts and bruises all over his body.

Dediashvili was arraigned two days later before Queens Criminal Court Judge Charles LoPresto. Bail was set at $7,500 and his next court date is January 15. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison on two counts each of second-degree and assault. Detectives from the 112th Precinct are continuing the search for his cohorts.

Dangers of Drunken Driving Discussed at Precinct Meeting

Crime Stats Reported, Scam Alert Announced

By Conor Greene

The monthly meeting of the 112th Precinct Community Council was headlined by a discussion reinforcing the dangers of drinking and driving, which is one of the most prevalent crimes in the area.

The meeting included a report by the precinct’s commanding officer on crime in the area, which continues to fall dramatically compared with last year. Residents were also warned about several current scams and crime patterns.

The session inside the Austin Street stationhouse last Wednesday featured Officer Stuart Moskowitz, who was honored by the community council for years of dedication to the community. “When he knocks on your [car] door – if you’ve been out drinking and driving, you are getting arrested,” said Captain Christopher Tamola.

Officer Moskowitz reminded residents that the community recently had a stark reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, when a teenage driver allegedly smoked marijuana before causing a fatal wreck on the Grand Central Parkway service road that killed a married couple.

During his nearly nine years at the precinct, Officer Moskowitz has made about 200 arrests for drunken driving, he said. “A lot of people get killed each year – it’s a very serious crime,” he said. “People have three or four drinks and think they’re okay, but they’re not.”

On August 5, 17-year-old Jacob Chubalashvili drove a Mercedes-Benz through a red light and into an Acura carrying Ki Kim, 55, and his wife, Hyekyung Kim, 53, who were headed to work from their Kew Gardens home. “I couldn’t even tell what kind of car it was – it was split in half,” said Officer Moskowitz of the couple’s destroyed vehicle. “It was one of the worst pictures I’ve seen in my entire career.”

The officer explained that somebody suspected of driving drunk will be asked to blow into a breathalyzer during the motor vehicle stop. It is considered a field test that is not admissible in court, he said. If the driver refuses, they are handcuffed and brought to the precinct, where highway officers take an official measurement of the blood-alcohol content. Between .06 and .08 percents is considered impaired, while anything above is classified as intoxicated.

“I don’t want to see anybody’s family members killed by a person who is drinking and driving,” said Officer Moskowitz. He noted that even if you are rear-ended while sitting at a red light, you will be arrested if you have been drinking. “You can be driving like an ace, and then get rear-ended – if I smell alcohol, you’re going to jail.”

Captain Tamola noted that the precinct is “tops for DWI arrests” citywide, despite being on the smaller side in terms of manpower, with about 110 officers. “Officer Moskowitz saves lives every day,” he said. “When he makes one arrest, we don’t know how many lives that saves.”

Local Crime Report

The precinct, which covers Forest Hills and Rego Park, “continues a banner year in crime reduction,” announced Captain Tamola. The 15% reduction from last year is the second best improvement citywide, he said, adding that statistically, the 112th is the safest precinct.

He noted that there were two recent fatal accidents involving vehicles, with an arrest made in one. The first involved the teenage driver along the Grand Central Parkway service road. In the second, an elderly woman was killed while crossing Queens Boulevard, the first pedestrian fatality along the Forest Hills stretch of the road in more than a year. The victim was apparently trying to cross the boulevard between two intersections, and the driver was not charged in the accident.

“It’s like trying to cross a highway when you go against the light,” said Captain Tamola. “Basically, she walked out in the middle of traffic.” He said that after years of multiple pedestrian deaths along the “Boulevard of Death,” there were zero fatalities last year and one in 2006.

Overall, traffic accidents and injuries throughout the precinct are down, said Tamola. “This is significant,” he said, explaining that the 112th Precinct is known within the NYPD as being the worst for motor vehicle incidents. “I’m sure it doesn’t seem that way, but overall accidents are down.”

He said the precinct will continue to crack down on offenses including drivers not wearing seatbelts and talking on cell phones, especially along corridors such as Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Austin Street, Yellowstone Boulevard and Union Turnpike.

Vehicle Broken Into

The area suffered through a “spike” in reports of vehicles broken into over the summer.

Captain Tamola urged residents to make sure valuables including wallets, sunglasses, GPS systems and laptops are not left in parked cars. He also warned against leaving shopping bags in plain sight, even if they don’t contain valuables.

“They look for the easiest mark they can find,” he said. “They’re going to move on to the next one [if no valuables are visible].”

Verizon Fraud Alert

Residents were advised that the detective’s bureau has issued a grand larceny alert. A scam involving a person calling residents and claiming to be from Verizon has snared at least two victims in the Forest Hills area, he reported. The person asked for the resident’s social security number and credit card information, including the three-digit security code.

“I don’t remember the phone company ever calling for my social security number,” said the captain. “Do not give out your [information], especially not your security code. Protect your identity.” He said a huge percentage of crime in the area includes grand larceny, much of which comes through identity theft.

Suitcase Drive for Foster Children

A representative from the Lions Club’s Hollis chapter informed residents of the group’s suitcase drive. The club collects used suitcases, which are donated to foster children so they don’t have to carry their belongings from house to house in a garbage bag.

“Their life is already in turmoil, being re- moved from a home where they should be loved,” she said. “This puts dignity back in their lives, so they are not traveling with a garbage bag. It gives them a real start to bringing back their quality of life.”

The club also gathers donated toiletries and places them in the suitcase for the children to help with the transition to foster care. For details, contact Adina Callender at (718) 481-9518 or caltrin1@yahoo.com.

Missing Torahs Returned

Heidi Chain Harrison, president of the 112th Precinct Community Council, reported that an annual meeting at One Police Plaza last week included the return of eight stolen
Torahs to a local temple in time for the holidays.

The Torahs were stolen from the Kew Gardens Hills Jewish Center in August, and recovered several weeks later after a live-in custodian was charged. At the time, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown promised to try to return the Torahs, which are needed as evidence, as soon as possible.

“It just was something the likes of which I’ve never seen before,” said Harrison. “It was an unbelievable demonstration of how the police department in New York protects and works with everybody.”

Post Office Fraud

Lydon Sleeper of Rep. Anthony Weiner’s office reported on legislation the congressman has introduced to reduce identity theft.

There have been several incidents of residents whose personal information was stolen after, unbeknownst to them, somebody filed a change of address form in their name with the Postal Service. As a result, their mail was rerouted to a new address, giving the criminal access to their personal information.

Legislation introduced by Weiner would force the post office to ask for photo identification whenever somebody submits a change of request form.

Photos: Captain Christopher Tamola discusses recent crime trends at last week's 112th Precinct Community Council meeting.

Heidi Chain Harrison thanks Officer Stuart Moskowitz for his dedication to the community.

Another Death on Queens Boulevard

Elderly Woman Struck while Crossing in Forest Hills

The notorious “Boulevard of Death” claimed another life when an 81-year-old woman was struck by a car and killed last Friday.

According to police, Shellie Parris was hit at about 8 p.m. while crossing in front of 109-15 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills. An 83-year-old woman driving a Toyota Camry remained at the scene and was not charged in the accident.

Michelle DeMerse, who lives in a nearby apartment building, said she heard a loud “thump.” A short time later, she saw paramedics attempt to revive the woman. “You see CPR all the time on television but seeing it live is like getting hit with a brick. It’s shocking,” said DeMerse.

A section of Queens Boulevard was closed while the accident was investigated, and the driver held at the scene by police for nearly three hours, according to DeMerse.

The Forum Newsgroup/photo courtesy of MICHELLE DEMERSE

Unlicensed Teen Driver Admits to "Popping Pills" Before Fatal Wreck

ATTORNEY WILL SEEK PLEA BARGAIN

By Conor Greene

The teenager arrested after a fatal car accident last week was “drugged out of his gourd” when he made incriminating statements to investigators in the hours after the wreck, said his lawyer after visiting him in the hospital.

Seventeen-year-old Jacob Chubalashvili is currently in the Rikers Island infirmary while awaiting his next appearance in Queens Criminal Court, scheduled for August 21. He is facing second-degree manslaughter charges after allegedly running a red light and slamming into a vehicle driven by a Kew Gardens husband and wife, who were killed instantly.

After the accident last Tuesday on the Grand Central Parkway service road, Chubalashvili told prosecutors that he smoked marijuana and was “speeding and popping pills” before running the red light and slamming into an Acura driven by Ki and Hyekung Kim, who were on their way to work.

“I just took the car, I didn’t have permission to take it,” the unlicensed teen told investigators, according to District Attorney Richard Brown. “I smoked some marijuana before I took the car... I remember taking the car, it’s a Mercedes and jetting down the road and the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital.”

Later that evening, after being informed of the criminal charges, he allegedly said, “I was speeding and popping pills. I had about 12 pain pills. I was really f---ed up.”After being told that two people were dead, Chubalashvili said, “How is the Mercedes? That was supposed to be my car,” according to Brown.

On Tuesday, Chubalashvili attorney, Leonard Ressler questioned whether his client had actually made those statements. “I’m sure he made some of them, but he couldn’t have made the ‘how’s my car’ statements because it [didn’t belong to] a family member,” he said.

Ressler said his client was “drugged out of his gourd” and “severely injured” with a broken arm and head injuries. He is still awaiting reports regarding Chubalashvili, including the results of the toxicology tests taken after the accident and information regarding Chubalashvili medical history.

“Given his age, hopefully we’re going to be able to negotiate something,” said Ressler, adding that he doesn’t expect any movement on the case by the next court hearing. “We have to get the reports; apparently he has some issues.”

At the time of the accident, Chubalashvili had been sent to stay with a friend of his father’s because he was refusing to take his medication. He is accused of taking the family friend’s Mercedes without permission before driving around an SUV stopped at a red light and speeding through the intersection at 69th Road at more than 60 miles per hour.

Contrary to statements issued by the district attorney’s office, Ressler said Chubalashvili “acted shocked” when he told him two people were dead. “We’re talking about someone who had a head injury and was on drugs,” said Ressler. “I had trouble communicating with him, so I don’t know where they’re getting the whole issue of [lack of] remorse from. As far as I’m concerned, he has been medicated since the accident.”

Chubalashvili told his attorney he blacked out and “has no recollection of anything” before “waking up in the hospital,” said Ressler. He said the next step is to review the medical reports so that “the proper assessment [can be made] between someone who is a psycho driver and someone with other conditions.”

Ressler said the stretch of road where the accident occurred is especially dangerous. “Accord- ing to the neighbor, there is an accident a day there. They said they constantly hear the squealing of breaks. The foliage is overgrown, and in this case he went around an SUV so it was double blind.”

According to court papers, Chubalashvili was arrested twice in the three months before the accident. He was charged on March 18 along with Rabiyev Merikhay and Michael Sarikov with robbing two pre-teens of a cell phone at a Rego Park playground. The three friends then forced the youngsters to take them to their apartment and get $200 for them.

Following the robbery, Merikhay warned the victims, “If you do call the police, you are going to get a worse beating than you already got,” according to the criminal complaint. “Russians don’t cry, Russians get even,” added Sarkiov.

“The repercussions won’t end.” On July 16, Chubalashvili was arrested at the Roosevelt Avenue subway station after “doubling up through a turnstile with another person” instead of paying the fare.

While Ressler will likely seek a plea agreement with prosecutors in the manslaughter case, District Attorney Brown vowed in the days after the fatal accident that the case will be “vigorously prosecuted and should serve as a warning to those who would flout our traffic regulations and put others in danger.”

The district attorney’s office declined to comment on the chances the case will not go to trial.

Not Guilty Verdict in Witness Tampering Trial

Woman Charged With Threatening Slain Dentist’s Brother

By Conor Greene

The woman accused of threatening the brother of murdered dentist Daniel Malakov has been cleared of witness tampering.

Following nearly two full days of deliberations, a jury on Friday found Natella Natanova not guilty on charges of third degree witness intimidation and tampering. The jurors reached their decision just after 5 p.m. Friday, about two hours after they had warned the judge that they were having difficulty reaching a verdict.

Natanova was charged in March after Gavril Malakov told police that she had approached him at the intersection of 108th Street and 65th Avenue in Forest Hills and said to him, “You should know if you talk, you will be the next to go.” She was facing up to four years in prison if convicted on the charges.

Natanova’s sister, Mazoltuv Borukhova, is accused of hiring a distant relative to gun down her ex-husband, Daniel Malakov, at a local playground last October. That trial is expected to begin this fall.

“We’re pleased with the verdict and think it was the right thing for the jury,” said attorney Melvyn Roth, who represented Natanova. “Obviously they thought that he wasn’t credible, and didn’t believe him.”

Roth noted that Gavril Malakov was granted custody of five-year-old Michelle after the girl’s father was murdered and her mother was charged in the crime. During the deliberations, jurors revisited Malakov’s testimony stating that he had informed investigators from the city’s Administration for Children’s Services about Natanova’s arrest.

“The whole thing was fabricated,” said Roth. “He had a motive not to tell the truth because there was an investigation by ACS to determine who would get custody of the young child. Ultimately, Mr. Malakov, the supposed victim here, got custody, and we told the jury that his motive to make up the fabrication was so that my client didn’t get custody.

The office of Queens District Attorney Richard Brown did not respond to a message seeking comment on the verdict. Roth speculated that the charges were only brought against Natanova in the first place because of the high profile murder charges pending against her sister. “I think it was the reason the DA brought the charges in the first place, but I think [the jury] judged this case independently.”

According to Roth, Natanova claimed throughout that the incident had never occurred and that she was just walking to her building. “My client says that she never saw him on the street,” the attorney said.

In the murder case expected to begin this fall, prosecutors are charging that Borukhova paid a relative $19,500 to have her ex-husband Daniel Malakov shot in the chest. The popular orthodontist had just arrived at Annadale Playground on that Sunday morning to drop Michelle off for a custody visit with her mother when he was murdered.

Officer Dies in Afghanistan

An NYPD lieutenant assigned to the 112th Precinct died on July 4 from injuries suffered in Afghanistan while serving with the National Guard.

The Department of Defense on Monday announced that Lt. Daniel Farkas, 42, of Fort Greene, Brooklyn died from injuries suffered from a non-hostile incident in Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan. He was a 20-year veteran of the NYPD assigned to the Forest Hills-based precinct.

The incident is currently under investigation, according to the DOD. He joined the National Guard in 1992 and was assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team based out of Syracuse.

He is reportedly survived by his mother, who he lived with along with two sisters and two nieces. His family declined to speak with reporters, but an officer with the 112th Precinct described Farkas as an “extraordinary” person who was “very-well liked by his peers and his subordinates,” according to the Daily News.

Farkas was honored several times during his law enforcement career, including for helping arrest an Elmhurst man charged with setting a series of fires in Middle Village, Maspeth and Rego Park and for helping a federal marshal subduing a rowdy airline passenger in 2003.

The announcement comes just weeks after the death of another local National Guardsman, Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks of South Ozone Park, who was killed in Kandahar City, Afghanistan from wounds suffered when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

The deaths come at a time when casualties of American troops in Afghanistan have increased as forces battle the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Brooklyn Man Charged in Apartment Building Burglaries

By Conor Greene

A Brooklyn man has been charged in a string of residential break-ins around Forest Hills and Rego Park that had left many neighborhood residents nervous, especially those living in ground floor apartments.

Jamal Williams, 25, of East New York was arrested Friday night by detectives from the 112th Precinct and arraigned the following morning on charges he broke into four apartment buildings in the neighborhood between Queens Boulevard and the Grand Central Parkway, announced authorities.

Williams, of 584 Logan Street, was ordered held on $175,000 bail by Queens Criminal Court Judge Barry Kron. He is due back in court on July 3 and faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted. He is being held on four separate complaints charging him with multiple counts of burglary, larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.

“The defendant is accused of being a one man crime wave and brazenly climbing through first floor apartment windows sometimes even when the homeowners were sleeping,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. “One inside the apartments, he would allegedly steal whatever he could fine and then flee.” Williams’ “ultimate undoing,” according to Brown, “was when he was caught by surveillance cameras at one apartment house and at an ATM machine [at the Washington Mutual Bank] where he was trying to use a debit card” stolen in one of the burglaries.

The criminal complaint accuses him of climbing through a first floor apartment window at 67-12 Yellowstone Boulevard just after midnight on May 25 and stealing a flat-screen television, a Bulova watch and North Face jacket. Two days later, he allegedly entered a first floor apartment at 65-10 108th Street while its occupant was sleeping and made off with a purse containing credit and debit cards and five dollars.

A third criminal complaint charges Williams with entering the first-floor apartment window at 66-40 108th Street on June 2 and stealing a Toshiba laptop computer. On the evening of June 18, he allegedly climbed through the ground floor apartment at 102-30 67th Avenue and fleeing with a Rolex watch, diamond engagement ring, an I-Pod, cellular phone, a gold necklace and several credit and debit cards.

All four buildings are within several blocks of each other, in a neighborhood characterized by mid-level apartment buildings near Yellowstone Boulevard. The alleged burglar was taken into custody after the doorman at the first building targeted realized he saw Williams in the lobby earlier that day, said Brown. That suspicion was confirmed by a review of the building’s surveillance footage, and photographs taken at a Washington Mutual Bank ATM several blocks from the second burglary shows Williams attempting to use a bank debit card taken from that break in, according to the charges.

At the time of his arrest, Williams allegedly admitted that he had entered the apartments thorough the windows and told detectives he sold the television taken from the first burglary to a Jamaica pawnshop for $150 and the laptop for $200. He also admitted to selling the Rolex watch taken in the fourth burglary to an individual in Brooklyn. Brown noted that other break-ins in the area are being investigated to see if there are any links to the ones already connected to Williams. Police originally suspected two men were working together, but now have said Williams acted alone. Bank Robbery Suspect Arrested

The arrest of Williams was not the 112th Precinct’s only high-profile collar in the past few weeks. At last Wednesday’s meeting of the precinct’s Community Council, Captain Christopher Tamola announced that his daytime Anti-Crime Unit arrested a suspect in connection with the robbery of a local Commerce Bank. The suspect entered the bank at about and passed a note to a teller demanding money, according to the captain. An employee was able to hit the alarm, and a witness got a description of the perpetrator and his getaway vehicle.

As officers canvassed the area, they learned that the car was registered to a neighborhood in south Queens. They arrested the suspect after tracking him down to the address listed for the vehicle, said Tamola. “It was great work by the sergeant and his troops,” said Captain Tamola, commanding officer of the 112th Precinct. “The Commerce is a very wide open bank, and we see this happening more and more often.” He added that the suspect still had an ink stain still on him when officers tracked him down from a dye pack that exploded in the bag of money. “That made it pretty easy to catch him,” said Tamola, who noted that branch has been held up three times in the past three months.

Katz Swears Members in at 112th Precinct's Community Council Meeting

By Conor Greene

This month's meeting of the 112th Precinct's Community Council included a presentation honoring the Cops of the Month, and a swearing in ceremony led by Councilwoman Melinda Katz.

COPS OF THE MONTH
Members of the precinct’s anti-crime team were honored for turning down that a suspected drug dealer tried to offer them in exchange for letting him go, announced Captain Tamola. On June 3, the unit arrested a man for selling marijuana. While being taken into custody, the suspect asked the officers if they could “work this out” and offered them $2,000 cash to drop the charges.

The unit’s sergeant told the captain about the offer and said he got the perpertrator to repeat it on tape. The suspect was found to have $53,000 on him at the time, said Captain Tamola. “He really wanted to get out of it,” said Captain Tamola. “In this day and age, the officers showed tremendous, tremendous integrity... These are my crime fighters. They have to be smarter and know where crimes are being committed.”

Officer Demitrios Raptis was also honored this month after taking a disorderly person who stabbed him into custody. On June 6, Officer Raptis responded by himself to a report of a suspicious person hanging out in a park. Without waiting for backup, the officer approached the man, who turned suddenly and stabbed the officer in the chest.

“His vest stopped the knife from piercing his body,” said Tamola. Officer Raptis then chased and caught the suspect, who has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer. “Sometimes, it turns out they are a really bad criminal,” he said. “That is our biggest fear as a police officer.” After Raptis received his award, Tamola told him to change out of his dress uniform “and get back out on the street.”

CRIME DECREASING
Captain Tamola reported that the precinct has seen the largest drop in overall crime so far this year within the area covered by Borough Patrol Queens North, with a twenty percent decline. That ranks the 112th Precinct as the fourth best in the city in terms of overall crime decrease.

“I owe all that to the hard work of the men and women of the 112th,” he said, also crediting the framework left behind by former commanding officer, Captain Richard Napolitano, who is now commanding officer of the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst. He also thanked the residents who support the community council each month. “The people in this room are the ones helping us,” he said.

MELINDA KATZ VISITS
Councilwoman Melinda Katz and her newborn son Carter stopped by to help swear in the council’s executive board members. “Just so you know how dedicated I am to the 112th Precinct Community Council,” she said after arriving amidst a rainstorm. “I guess he should get used to it now,” she added about Carter’s public appearance. She joked that Carter was born six weeks early, at which point giving birth was “not on my schedule.”

She reported that after being born premature, the baby is doing great and now weighs seven pounds. Katz, who is eyeing a run for the city comptroller’s position when term limits force her out of the City Council next year, told the audience that she is in the middle of the budget process, which is due to be voted on June 26.

“Every year you hear the horror stories about cutting senior program, and cutting education,” she said. “It scares people, but the council is fighting for a lot of this stuff.”

She swore in the following board members to new terms: Heidi Harrison Chain, president, Alan Hackman, vice president, Gail Gordon, second vice president, Todd Reisman, treasurer, Renee Lobo, secretary, Karen Mongiello, sergeant at arms and William Engel, assistant secretary.