Criminal Justice

Doug Condit “One of a Kind”

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Norwood and other local Bronx residents were heartbroken to learn on Sunday, April 2, of the death of beloved, active community member, Doug Condit, Jr., a Vietnam veteran who, among other roles, was one of the main drivers behind the opening, in 2018, of Norwood’s Williamsbridge Oval Skate Park.   Fellow veteran and member of Friends of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP), Lorita Watson, one of many friends who had been visiting Condit in recent months as he underwent hospice care for colon cancer at his Wayne Avenue home, said, “Doug was a great guy with a lot of grit. He lived an


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UPDATE Norwood: 25-Year-Old Man Stable after Being Shot on Hull Avenue

By SÍLE MOLONEY & DAVID GREENE
  Police said a man is being treated at an area hospital after he was shot in Norwood on Saturday, April 8.   A police spokesperson said the incident occurred at around 6.16 p.m. at the corner of East 209th Street and Hull Avenue. The spokesperson said, “We have an individual [who] was shot one time in the right buttocks while sitting in a car.” He said the victim transported himself to Montefiore Medical Center in Norwood, and is in a stable condition. We asked if the person was sitting with the car door closed or open when the shooting occurred. “I


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Off Duty School Crossing Guard Arrested for Endangering Welfare of Child

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Police said an off-duty New York City employee was arrested on Friday, April 7, in the 49th Precinct, which covers the neighborhoods of Allerton, Morris Park, Van Nest, Pelham Parkway, Eastchester Gardens, and Pelham Gardens.   According to the NYPD, Sanija Kurtovic, 46, an NYPD school crossing guard, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment.   A person arrested and charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.    

Elections 2023: Irene Estrada Lays Out her Case for her City Council Run in District 13

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Former Democratic female district leader for the 80th assembly district and Democratic candidate for city council in District 13, Irene Estrada, briefly broke down why she is running for the seat against incumbent, City Councilwoman Marjorie Velázquez when we spoke to her at the 25th Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 12.   Estrada, whose two daughters serve with the NYPD, and who is on the clergy council of the 49th Precinct, said, “Our streets are a mess with crime.” She added, “We also need to bring back the school safety task force. They took it away after COVID.


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Group of Elected Officials Visit Rikers Island, Alleging Hochul is “Pushing to Roll Back Bail Reform”

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  A group of eight State lawmakers held a press conference at the entrance to Rikers Island jail on Thursday, April 6, amid, they said, reports of “continued unsafe and inhumane conditions,” at the jail. The visit was scheduled as legislators awaited updates from three-way budget negotiations, and in the context of those negotiations, they allege Gov. Kathy Hochul was “pushing civil rights rollbacks that would result in many more people being held at Rikers without being convicted of a crime.”   Among the group were State Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (S.D. 34) who represents parts of The Bronx, State Sen.


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Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on Why People Oppose Banning Assault Weapons

By DAVID GREENE
  This week, we asked readers their thoughts on the possibility of banning assault weapons, and what is driving the opposition by some to banning the use by civilians of weapons of war.     “Assault weapons or machine guns shouldn’t be in the hands of regular citizens; they should only be used by the military, but all citizens should be able to own handguns and rifles. No one should be dying. Lawmakers should just take some action. They should just make the right choice. My thinking is if you know the history of how the police first began, they were


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UPDATE Alleged Pimps, Former Hotel Employees Charged in Child Sex Trafficking Ring

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced on Thursday, April 6, that six men, three alleged pimps, and the manager, front desk clerk, and security guard at a Bronx hotel, have been charged with a host of offenses, including enterprise corruption, sex trafficking of a child, and promoting prostitution, and two of the alleged pimps were also charged with rape.   Clark said the defendants, Akeem Lee, 34; Marvin Flint, 32;  Anthony Reyes, 31; Golam Rabbani, 27; Robert Olaguibel, 45; and Patrick Walker, 51, were variously charged in an 80-count indictment


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UPDATE Elections 2023: Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark on Safety & Criminal Justice

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.   Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark made history in 2016 when she was elected as the first African American woman to ascend to the role of district attorney in the State of New York, as well as the first woman to hold the position of Bronx district attorney. As she runs for reelection for the third time in June 2023, we take a look back at her career to date, and her mission “to lead with empathy and compassion” while balancing safety


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Westchester Square: Bronx Man Charged in Killing of 15-Year-Old Stepson

By SÍLE MOLONEY
         Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced on Wednesday, April 5, that a Bronx man has been charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of his 15-year-old stepson, as reported.   In the context of the announcement, Clark said, “The defendant allegedly got into a dispute with his stepson, and restrained him by grabbing his neck, causing a lack of oxygen which led to the boy’s death. It is horrific that his life was taken at such a young age.” She said the defendant, Tyresse Minter, 28, was arraigned on Wednesday on charges of second-degree manslaughter


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