By The TimesLedger
FLUSHING — A fire broke out in a second floor apartment of 34-25 146th St. at 4:19 p.m. Friday afternoon, fire officials said.
Five people, two grandparents and three children were taken to Flushing Hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation, said Fire Marshal Todd Velten.
Supervising Fire Marshal Brian Grogan said the fire broke out because the children were playing with matches.
“The kids were really lucky to get out alive,” said Grogan.
Man robs Ridgewood bank by making bomb threat
RIDGEWOOD – Ridgewood Savings Bank was robbed by a man who claimed to be armed with a gun and a bomb Wednesday.
The robber entered the bank, located at 71-02 Forest Ave., at 10:44 a.m. and passed a teller a note demanding money and saying that he had a gun and a bomb, police reports said.
The robber placed a rectangular box on the counter, which he left after he fled with $2,000, police reports said.
The bomb squad confiscated the box, although there is no confirmation it was an actual explosive. There were no injuries.
The robber’s identity was still unknown, and the investigation was ongoing, police reports said.
Far Rockaway man charged in drug bust
FAR ROCKAWAY – A Far Rockaway man was arrested on drug charges last Thursday morning, police reports said.
Sammy DeJesus, 25, of 22-20 Cornaga Ave., Apt. H4, was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, police reports said.
DeJesus was arrested after the Queens Boro Intelligence Team executed a search warrant on the address.
Officers found eight packets of cocaine, two bags of marijuana, a digital scale, packaging paraphernalia, narcotic cutting materials, and $81, police reports said.
Police say Sunnyside man tied to armed robberies
SUNNYSIDE – A Sunnyside man was arrested Tuesday in connection with a series of armed robberies within the 108th Precinct, police said.
Edward Shannon, 20, of 42-09 47th Ave., was arrested for his alleged connection to five robberies that took place from Nov. 29, 2001, to Dec. 19, 2001, police said. In these incidents the robber was armed with either a kitchen knife or a handgun and approached food deliverymen and demanded money, police reports said.
The investigation was ongoing, police reports said.
Corona man arrested in Columbia for 1999 murder
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – A Corona man was arrested March 13 in Bogota, Colombia, in relation to a 1999 murder in the Bronx, police said.
Pedro Cabera, 41, of 102-32 Strong Ave., Corona, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Donald Pagani, 69, police said. Pagani was killed in August 1999 outside 891 E. 149th St., Melrose, according to the police. Cabera was arrested in a joint operation between the Colombian National Police Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bronx Homicide task force, they said.
Queens Plaza hit and run lands man in hospital
DUTCH KILLS – A 38-year-old man was struck by a minivan as he attempted to cross a street last Thursday, police said.
The man, who was not identified, was hit as he was crossing the intersection at 29th Street and Queens Plaza North, police said. The vehicle fled the scene, and the man was taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan in critical condition, police reports said.
No arrests were made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Homeless man admits Queens rape
MANHATTAN – A 20-year-old homeless man who is accused of committing multiple rapes, including two in Queens, was arrested in Providence, R.I. Sunday, police said.
Andre Caperna confessed to raping one woman at gunpoint and attempting to rape a robbery victim, police said. Both crimes happened in Queens. Caperna also admitted his role in a string of other crimes in Manhattan and the Bronx, police reported.
Hollis man shot dead, police investigating
SPRINGFIELD GARDENS – A Hollis man was fatally shot Thursday afternoon on the corner of 185th Street and 141 Avenue.
Richard Blake, 22, of 113-35 198th St., was shot once in the head and once in the arm by an unknown assailant, police said. Blake was taken to Mary Immaculate Hospital where he was pronounced dead on the scene.
There have been no arrests, and the investigation was ongoing.
