Police Blotter: Three Robberies and One Assault

Crime is down in 7 percent in the 79th precinct (26 incidents versus 28 incidents) for the week of February 27 through March 4, compared to this same time in 2011. For the month, crime is up 28 percent (119 incidents versus 93 incidents), compared to this same 28-day period in 2011. Year to date, crime is up 32 percent (294 incidents versus 222 incidents), compared to this same time period last year.

Robberies:

On Wednesday, March 7, at approximately 12:05 am, a 41-year-old woman was robbed in her home on Putnam Avenue. According to police reports, the perpetrator, who is also the father of her child, forced his way into her apartment and then struck her in the head with a frying pan, causing her to fall to the floor. He then punched and kicked her, snatched her chain off of her neck and fled the apartment. Police are on the lookout for the perpetrator, who is known to police and in violation of probation.

On Friday, March 9, at approximately 9:50pm, there was an armed robbery of J&K Dry Cleaners, located at 507 Franklin Avenue. According to police reports, the perpetrator walked into the store and up to the counter with his hand in his pocket, simulating to the merchant like he was carrying a gun. He then demanded the merchant come up to the register and said, “Give me the money,” and “Do you want to die?” The victim then withdrew $400 in cash from her register. The suspect grabbed the money and fled southbound on Franklin Avenue. There were no injuries, and the investigation is ongoing.

On Saturday, March 10, at approximately 2:45am, a man attempted a robbery of a 19-year-old woman at a bar on 742 Myrtle Avenue. According to the victim’s report, she was sitting at the bar when she noticed a man looking at her. The victim described the man as appearing out of place and unkempt. Shortly thereafter, she noticed her purse was missing and then looked outside to find the suspect walking down the street with her purse. The victim chased after the man and struggled with him for her purse, but he pulled away and ran off with the purse. The victim reported the incident to police, who shortly thereafter caught up with the suspect, Dawine Black, age 35, and were able to recover the woman’s purse and all items, in addition to property recently taken from a second victim. Police arrested the suspect for robbery.

Assault:

On Saturday, March 10, at approximately 5:00pm, a 38-year-old man was assaulted at his residence in the 1100 block of Bedford Avenue following a dispute with a stranger. According to the victim, the suspect started a verbal and physical altercation with him, striking him across the left shoulder with a golf club after he asked the suspect to stop cursing around his children. Police are looking for the suspect, and the investigation is ongoing.

*CORRECTION 3/15/12, 1:10pm: In the report of the March 9 robbery of J&K Dry Cleaners, Patch incorrectly named Jimmy Ponce as the suspect. He is in fact the arresting officer. The correct suspect is Dawine Black, a career criminal who was arrested for robbery only a month earlier in the same area.