Articles written by the author
A Black Paratrooper's First Veterans Day, and His Last
NEW YORK — On Monday, for the first time in his life, Needham Mayes was a veteran on Veterans Day.
'I Know the Struggle': Why a Pizza Mogul Left Pies at Memorials to 4 Homeless Men
NEW YORK — Candles, flowers and handwritten tributes flow onto the sidewalk like surf filling a void in the sand, replacing the body just taken away. Memorials in Chinatown this week marked the spots where four homeless men were killed Saturday, their heads smashed while they slept by an attacker wielding a metal bar.
On His Deathbed, an Ex-Soldier Makes a Final Plea to Clear His Name
The young Army paratrooper had barely set foot in the club for noncommissioned officers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when he was confronted by a sergeant.
48 Years Later, a Cold Case Mystery: Who Killed Officer Bolden?
NEW YORK — Three people were in the bar that night — the bartender, an off-duty police officer he was chatting with over the polished wood, and, in the back of the place, a man in a phone booth.
How the NYPD Commissioner Grappled With the Eric Garner Decision
NEW YORK — James P. O’Neill, the New York City police commissioner, could have dispensed with a decision five years in the making with a terse official statement.
A Dirt Bike Pops, and 'Run, Hide, Fight' Comes to Times Square
NEW YORK — It was a teeming summer night typical in Times Square, with tourists strolling beneath the glowing screens over Broadway, vendors hawking souvenirs and audiences sitting in theaters as performances neared their end. Celia Keenan-Bolger, who plays Scout Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Shubert Theater, was giving her final speech of the night.
Killing of mobster at McDonald's was ordered by his son, prosecutors say
Anthony Zottola, 41, of Larchmont, New York, hired a member of the Bloods gang, Bushawn Shelton, 35, to kill his father and his older brother, Salvatore, prosecutors said.
The Accidental Hit Woman
NEW YORK — Even on a night of surprises for Blanche Wright, the man in the suit stood out. She had headed across the Bronx to visit her sick aunt, but when she entered the apartment she found a roomful of people waiting for her: “Happy Birthday!” Then she was introduced to a friend of her aunt’s, an impeccably dressed lawyer from Philadelphia.
He's the 'Albanian gangster' on film (It wasn't much of a stretch)
NEW YORK — It has long been common wisdom in certain parts of the Bronx that the muscular, tattooed man named John Rezaj should be referred to as “John” or “J.R.,” or maybe, if speaking with admiration about his approach to night life, “the Albanian Keith Richards.” One should not under any circumstances call him “an Albanian gangster.”
It could save their lives, why don't detectives always wear it?
The Police Department’s Patrol Guide dictates that detectives must wear the vest when performing enforcement duty, such as making an arrest. Other times, it is up to the detective.
Why did police officers fire 42 times to bring down a robbery suspect in Queens?
That question came up after Tuesday evening’s police fusillade in Queens that claimed the life of a veteran detective and wounded a sergeant. Seven officers fired 42 rounds in 11 seconds.
'Arrive Alive,' the police dispatcher said, then everything went wrong.
The response was instantaneous, according to a recording of police dispatch calls. Officers spoke over one another on their radios, announcing they were en route: “Show me going,” each said in rapid succession.
'Friendly Fire' Killing of Detective: 42 Shots, 7 Officers, 11 Seconds
NEW YORK — The call came in just after dark Tuesday — a man with a gun was robbing a T-Mobile store in Queens.
'Arrive Alive,' the Police Dispatcher Said. Then Everything Went Wrong.
NEW YORK — The call came in just after dark Tuesday — a man with a gun was robbing a T-Mobile store in Queens. A bystander outside the store said two employees had been taken to the back of the store.
Ex-boyfriend arrested in death of woman found in suitcase
The man, Javier da Silva, was taken into custody at his home in Queens on Monday night after he used an ATM card that belonged to the victim, Valerie Reyes, 24, of New Rochelle, New York, authorities said.
Ex-Boyfriend Arrested in Death of Woman Found in Suitcase
A former boyfriend of a young bookstore clerk whose body was stuffed into a suitcase and dumped in a wooded lot in Greenwich, Connecticut, was arrested Tuesday in connection with her death, police said.She Feared for Her Life. Then Her Body Was Found in a Suitcase.
It was late on Jan. 28 when Valerie Reyes, 24, called her mother in a panic from her nearby apartment in New Rochelle, New York, where she lived alone.
She Feared for Her Life. Then Her Body Was Found in a Suitcase.
It was late on Jan. 28 when Valerie Reyes, 24, called her mother in a panic from her nearby apartment in New Rochelle, New York, where she lived alone.
International pickpockets ride New York's subway, pilfering and profiting
It was rush hour on a Tuesday evening in September on the busy No. 6 line. The officer watched as the woman dipped her hand into a commuter’s purse while her partner stood in front of her, shielding her from view, according to the officer’s affidavit.
International Pickpockets Ride New York's Subway, Pilfering and Profiting
NEW YORK — A man and woman walked out of a subway car at the 51st Street station in Manhattan and darted into the next one on the same train. A plainclothes police officer noticed.
