Graffiti Offenders Exposed

As part of the 52nd Precinct’s new crackdown on quality of life offenses, police officials want to make it plain that graffiti won’t be tolerated. Last month, the precinct instituted its new "quality of life" initiative, which will now be called the Conditions Unit and will be dedicated to stopping graffiti, excessive noise and public drinking.

To illustrate its intolerant stance on graffiti, the Five-Two recently released the names of 38 people who were arrested on graffiti charges so far this year.

"We want the community to know who’s doing this," said Special Operations Lieutenant Steve Phalen.

Phalen said the precinct has made 35 arrests after receiving 56 graffiti complaints, which means they’re catching almost two out of every three offenders residents have complained about. Here, we’ve listed 19 adult offenders. Most of these people live in the Bronx, many here in the Five-two and a couple from outside the city: (The oldest was 40 years old, but most are young men not old enough to drink alcohol legally.)

Efrain Lopez of 1725 Andrews Ave.; Daniel DeJesus of 1760 Montgomery Ave.; Tyrell Brown of 1880 Valentine Ave.; James Tobar of 2707 Sedgwick Ave.; Antonio Birthwright of 20 W. 190th St.; Eric Rivera of 1239 Clay Ave.; Ernest Garcia of 2065 Grand Concourse; Dorsett Tirado of 3450 Gates Pl.; Maurice Peel of 3426 Gates Pl.; Thomas Poveromo of 116 Stanford St., Yonkers; Keith Heron of 10 Ursa Ave., Greenwood Lake; Pedro Sanchez of 2820 Morris Ave.; Erick Castellanos of 1652 Popham Ave.; Wilson Rodriguez of 751 Gerard Ave.; Alphonso Powell of 2675 Morris Ave.; Luis Rosa of 2825 Claflin Ave.; Jorge Reyes of 2375 Marion Ave.; David De La Cruz of 3034 Grand Concourse; Jamal McLelland of 1945 Vyse Ave.

Depending on their prior arrest records, most of those listed received community service penalties and were ordered to clean up their own mess, police said.

Shots Fired Near Aqueduct

On Thursday, May 17, police responded to a radio call of shots fired. A young man, 17 years old, was reportedly firing a .380 pistol into the air in broad daylight at about 6:14 p.m. on Fordham Road and Aqueduct Avenue.

When police approached the young man, the suspect dropped the gun and ran, but was soon overcome by police officers.

‘Defaced’ Gun Found in Gates Place

The mother of a young man on Gates Place called the police to report that her son was keeping a gun in his room.

Cops inspected the room and found marijuana, a 9-millimeter pistol and a sawed-off shotgun. Police said the pistol had been "defaced," meaning the serial number had been filed off, making it difficult to track its origins. It also means that the gun was probably purchased off the street. Possession of a defaced gun is a felony.

Shooting Victim Aided By Samaritan

A man was shot near 204th Street and Webster Avenue following an argument with a group of Hispanic men, police said.

Expletives were exchanged and then someone from the group of men pulled out a gun and fired shots at the victim. He was shot in the thigh as he ran away. The victim managed to limp his way to the Bronx River where a Samaritan picked him up and drove him to St. Barnabas Hospital.

Daytime Burglaries

Police in the Five-Two arrested a pair of burglars on May 16. Both were trying to gain access to apartments through fire escapes in the Bedford Park/North Fordham area. Both were apprehended in the act by Anti-Crime patrols, cops said.

Both burglaries occurred during the daytime, which police say is when the majority of home invasions happen.

Shooting Suspect Collared

Police responded to reports of shots fired at 250 E. Gun Hill Road in Norwood early Tuesday morning, according to police. They arrested a 21-year-old white male named Daniel Laino.