Volume 22, Number 04 | The Newspaper of Lower Manhattan | June 5 - 11, 2009
Police Blotter
Arrest in fatal crash
The driver of a 2005 Audi, Brandon Connelly, 32, of Valley Stream, crashed into the rear of a 2001 Chevrolet driven by Jamil Aljabal, 42 of Hencerson, N.C. at about 4:41 a.m. Sat., May 30, on the southbound F.D.R. Dr. near Catherine Slip, police said. The Chevrolet plowed into the concrete median and Connelly’s car struck a third car, police said. An Emergency Medical Service team declared Aljabal, who was driving the Chevrolet without a license, dead at the scene. Four passengers in the Chevrolet were taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition. Robert Bradley, 38, the driver of the third car, was also taken to Bellevue in stable condition after his Dodge minivan was hit. Police charged Connelly with vehicular manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and driving while intoxicated.
Tribeca slashing
Police arrested Abiah Hostvedt, 17, on Wed., May 27, and charged him with slashing a man in the shoulder around 10:40 p.m. on the sidewalk of Hudson and Jay Sts. The suspect, a Franklin St. resident, and the victim, 29, had been involved in a argument earlier. Hostvedt was released on parole pending a Sept. 3 court appearance on charges of second degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the Manhattan D.A.
Firefighters stop thief
A New Jersey man, 20, was walking on Varick St. at Vandam around 6 p.m. Thurs., May 28 when a stranger punched him in the mouth, grabbed his cell phone and ran, police said. The victim gave chase and his yell for help alerted firefighters at the station on Houston St. and Sixth Ave. who apprehended the suspect and held him for police. Allam Lawrence, 18, of Irvington, N.J., was charged with robbery and was being held in lieu of bail pending an Aug. 26 court date.
Hudson Sq. burglary
A burglar who entered the Hampton Inn Hotel, 52 Watts St. near Sixth Ave. at 11:30 p.m. Tues., May 26 managed to make his way into two rooms and steal a digital camera, iPod and cell phone, police said. The hotel concierge became suspicious when he saw the suspect walking out of the lobby and chased the burglar, but failed to catch him, police said.
Driver hits officer
A driver who was pulled over at Watts and Thompson Sts. for a traffic violation at 7 p.m. Mon., June 1 sped off while the traffic agent was writing a summons, according to police. The side view mirror struck and injured the agent’s hand. The driver has not been apprehended.
Peacemaker assaulted
Two men walked into a Chinatown store on Henry St. near Catherine St. at 9:40 p.m. Fri., May 29, greeted the owner, then hit him over the head with a chair and fled police said. The victim told police that he had broken up a fight the day before between the two suspects and a third man.
Mugged on Mott
Two suspects ambushed and robbed a man, 77, as he was walking up to his third floor apartment on Mott St. near Grand around 7:45 p.m. Sun. May 31, police said. The suspects waylaid the victim on the stairs between the second and third floors; one suspect put a hand over the victim’s mouth while the other went through his pockets and took $250 in cash, police said.
— Albert Amateau
