Crime Nearby: Packages Stolen

Bay Shore

Two men were charged last week with stealing packages from residential doorsteps in Bay Shore, police said. According to police, an off-duty New York State Trooper spotted Albert Munoz and Freddy Benavides, Jr. allegedly stealing a package from the doorstep of a home in Bay Shore. The trooper called Suffolk County Police and Third Precinct Patrol Officer Arthur Martrano arrested Munoz and Benavides when the suspects pulled into the U. S. Post Office in Bay Shore. Further investigation revealed that the suspects were following a UPS truck around the Bay Shore area and stole the packages after they were left on the doorsteps, police said. An Apple EarPod, Apple iPad Mini case, and two pairs of Skechers sneakers were recovered.

Massapequa

Two store employees who work at the Westfield Sunrise Mall were jumped by a robber who stole store proceeds Thursday night, police said. The employees, a 24-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman went into a trash disposal room on mall grounds when they were surprised by a man who knocked the male victim to the ground and kicked him several times. He wasn't hurt badly, police said. The robber took an envelope containing cash from the man and two handbags from the woman.

Hempstead

A 20-year-old Hempstead man was shot and killed Saturday evening. According to detectives, the victim, Quavis Ford, was in front of 100 Terrace Ave. when he was shot by a man around 4:23 p.m. Ford was taken to Nassau University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead by hospital staff. Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

Garden City

Dominic Barbara, a high profile attorney from Garden City who once represented Joey Buttafuoco and more recently Howard Stern, attempted to extort $200,000 from his ex-wife and destroy her reputation and career when she didn't meet his demands, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. Barbara, 67, threatened to file false police reports and a false order of protection against his ex-wife, Rice said, and was arrested last week. The celebrity divorce lawyer has been charged with grand larceny fourth degree, two counts of aggravated harassment second degree and two counts of stalking fourth degree.

Rockville Centre

Community National Bank in Rockville Centre was robbed Friday morning after a man told the bank manager he had brought a "device" into the bank. Police said that after entering the manager’s office, the man placed a brown folder on the desk, told the manager it was a robbery and demanded money. The man also indicated that the folder contained a "device." After obtaining an undetermined amount of cash, he left the folder on the manager’s desk and fled the bank on foot heading westbound on Merrick Road, police said. The arson/bomb squad responded to the scene and determined the folder to be non-hazardous.

Valley Stream

Police are searching for two men who assaulted a 28-year-old Valley Stream man last week.  According to detectives, the victim was inside his  home on Dec. 5 when two men began banging on his door around 3 p.m.  The victim left his house and approached the men. The first assailant, described as black, 5’ 7”, 160 lbs.  and wearing a black and red hooded sweatshirt, punched him in the face. The second, described as black, in his 20’s, 5’ 9”, medium build, and wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, displayed a handgun and fired one shot at the victim as he ran back to his home. The men fled in a late model dark blue BMW 5 series driven by a third black male. No injuries were reported. Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. 

Northport

John Pappias, the Northport man who pleaded guilty to a felony hit and run charge in October, was sentenced to 2 to 6 years in prison last week. Pappias was arrested on Jan. 14 after police linked his Chevy Tahoe pickup truck to debris at the scene of a Oct. 28, 2011 hit and run on Fort Salonga Road that killed construction worker Victor Schultz of Massapequa Park.

West Babylon

The New York State Department of Conservation announced two individuals  were charged for attempting to sell 150 blackfish to a Queens-based wholesale food dealer. A third person, the dealer, was also charged for attempting to purchase the fish. The DEC's Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) pressed charges on Nov.11 as fishermen Matthew Ervolino, 34, of West Babylon, and Matthew Savarese, 36, of Holbrook, began weighing the fish. The two were expecting to exchange money with dealer Ding Hai Yen, of New Harbor Food in Flushing, for the sale of 150 blackfish, weighing a total 382 pounds. The blackfish would have a $2,000 value on the black market, according to the DEC.