UPDATE Bronx Defenders Issue Cool Response to Mayor’s Blue Print to Curb Gun Violence

The Bronx Defenders, The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and Queens Defenders released the a statement on Monday, Jan. 24, in response to Mayor Eric Adams’ announcement earlier on Monday of his “Blueprint to End Gun Violence” in New York City. The mayor’s announcement follows a roundtable discussion held at a public school in Bedford Park on Saturday, Jan. 22, with crisis management teams and violence interrupters, amid a spate of high-profile police and civilian shootings which have taken place since he took office, including, as reported, the shooting of a now 1-year-old


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UPDATE New Rochelle High School Teacher Arraigned for Distributing Indecent Material to 15-Year-Old

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah announced on Monday, Jan. 24, that former Salesian High School teacher, Mariela Barajas, was arraigned for allegedly disseminating indecent material to a 15-year-old.   Barajas, 22, of Mount Vernon, was charged on Jan. 24, in Mount Vernon City Court with disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree, a felony. The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office made the arrest following an investigation, with assistance from the Mount Vernon Police Department and New Rochelle Police Department.   While employed at the New Rochelle school, in December 2021 and January 2022, Barajas allegedly engaged


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Bedford Park: NYPD Release Photos/Video of Suspect/Getaway Car in Shooting of 11-Month-Old Baby Catherine

  Pursuant to the ongoing investigation into the shooting of an 11-month-old baby girl on Wednesday, Jan. 19, in Bedford Park, the NYPD has released additional photos and video of the incident. The video shows the individual who fired the shots fleeing on East 198th Street towards Valentine Avenue. Meanwhile, the photos show a grey, Nissan, four-door sedan that the same individual fled in, as the driver. It is seen in the vicinity of the incident.   The photos and video are attached.   Crime stoppers have increased the initial reward for information on the shooting to $10,000.    


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Bronx DA: Rikers Inmate Charged with Attempted Rape of Nurse & Forcibly Touching DOC Officer

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Monday, Jan. 24, that a Rikers Island inmate has been charged with attempted rape in the first degree and with additional charges for sexually abusing a nurse, and for forcibly touching a female Department of Correction officer in the jail.   In announcing the charges, Clark said, “The defendant allegedly forcibly touched a female correction officer. Hours after that incident, the defendant allegedly attempted to rape a nurse assigned to the facility. He has been indicted for these appalling acts against women who work in the city’s jail.”   Clark went on


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Bronx DA: Bronx Man Charged with Attempted Murder of Two Police Officers; Shootout Left Three Wounded

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Monday, Jan. 24, that a Bronx man has been charged with attempted murder in the first degree and with additional charges for opening fire at two NYPD officers last November.   In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “Two uniformed NYPD police officers approached the defendant after responding to a 911 call about a man with a gun. The defendant allegedly pulled out a pistol and fired multiple shots at the officers, and one of them returned fire, wounding the defendant.” She added, “During the incident, one officer was wounded in


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Fordham Manor: 66-Year-Old Man Assaulted & Robbed inside Building

    The NYPD is asking for the public’s assistance identifying the person seen in the attached photographs and video who is sought in connection to a robbery that occurred in the 52nd precinct.   It was reported to police that on Friday, Jan. 21, at approximately 8.20 p.m., inside a building lobby in the vicinity of Kingsbridge Road and Morris Avenue, a 66-year-old male victim was approached by the person, who pushed him against the wall and punched him multiple times.   The suspect stole the victim’s cellphone and fled on foot to parts unknown. The victim suffered minor


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Bedford Park: Vigil for Baby Catherine on First Birthday Marks End of Another Week of Tragedy

Bronxites are angry, and beyond exhausted. Yet, they continue to persevere and show up for one another. Attached are some of the scenes from Friday evening’s prayer vigil, held at the corner of Valentine Avenue and East 198th Street in Bedford Park, the exact location where, as reported, an 11-month-old infant named Catherine was the unintended victim of a shooting to her cheek, while she was with her mother inside a parked vehicle on Wednesday evening, Jan. 19.   The vigil, organized by Pastor Jay Gooding and Brenda Caldwell-Paris, president of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, was attended by, among other


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Man Shot and has Died following Police Pursuit in Wakefield

Police confirm a 27-year-old man has been shot by police following a pursuit on Thursday, Jan. 20 in Wakefield. EMS transported the victim to hospital where he later died.   NYPD Chief Kenneth Corey and other NYPD officials held a press conference at the scene to update the media on the event, advising that the investigation was still in the early stages and the information provided was preliminary.   Corey said that at 1.30 p.m., uniformed police officers from the 47th precinct responded to a burglary in progress on the first floor of a building in the vicinity of East


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Winter Weather Advisory & Travel Advisory Issued for Thursday, Jan. 20 from 4 a.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for New York City, which will be in effect on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 4 a.m. and New York City Emergency Management Department (EMS) has issued a travel advisory which will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to the latest forecast, light rain is expected late Wednesday night with a transition to light snow early Thursday morning through the early afternoon.   City officials said an accumulation of light snowfall could result in snow-covered roads for the Thursday morning commute. A total of 2 inches of snow is expected


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