5 ‘Johns’ Have Cars Seized In Losing Proposition

Operation Losing Proposition proved just that for eight individuals on Friday, February 10. Starting at 11:30 p.m., under the supervision of Special Operations Lieutenant Joseph Gulotta, a Losing Proposition operation with undercover, trained police officers was conducted in the vicinity of Queens Plaza, historically a problematic area for prostitution within the confines of the 114th Precinct. Of the eight individuals arrested for soliciting a prostitute, five were driving their personal vehicles, which were seized for forfeiture in accordance with Police Department procedure.

114th Precinct Blotter Thursday, February 9:

• At the corner of 21st Street and Astoria Boulevard a 30-year-old white man was seen driving a 1992 Mercedes Benz on the sidewalk, nearly striking a pedestrian. The driver was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and driving on the sidewalk.

• Two 16-year-old black males were arrested at the corner of 28th Street and 21st Avenue when they were observed passing and smoking a marijuana cigarette in plain view of the public by St John's Prep H.S., where they are students. They were charged with criminal possession of marijuana and unlawful possession. A search of the two subsequent to their arrest turned up one bag of marijuana in one defendant’s jacket pocket.

• A22-year-old Hispanic man and a 25-yearold white man were both arrested and charged with assault and harassment after they got into a dispute over money in front of 22-61 23rd St. and punched each other, causing each a bruised cheek and bloody lip and substantial pain.

• A 59-year-old black man was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and driving the wrong way at the corner of Crescent Street and 33rd Road after he was seen driving a 1988 Infiniti northbound on Crescent Street, which is one-way southbound. A check with the Department of Motor Vehicles revealed that the perpetrator’s driver’s license was suspended, which the perpetrator admitted to the arresting officer prior to the DMV check.

Saturday, February 11

•A 37-year-old Hispanic man was arrested at the corner of 37th Avenue and 31st Street after he was observed driving a Mitsubishi on 37th Avenue and failing to signal while making a left turn onto 31st Street. The defendant exuded a strong odor of alcohol and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes and was determined to be intoxicated. The defendant was taken to the 112th Precinct to be tested and blew a .126. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and failure to signal.

•A man told police that he was awakened by a noise at his bedroom door. When he walked towards the door, the door opened. The man pushed the door closed and heard someone run downstairs. He noticed a cell phone in his kitchen in front of the door, which was pried open.

Officers who had responded to the man’s call returned to the 114th Precinct to voucher the Nextel cell phone, when it began to chirp. A male voice said, “I need my phone back and will pay you $100 USC.” The officers arranged to meet the unknown male at the Neptune Diner, 31-05 Astoria Blvd., and arrested a 19year-old Hispanic man. Two 21-year-old Hispanic women who were in the suspect’s car at the time of the burglary were arrested at the 114th Precinct. A flathead screwdriver was found in the front passenger seat of the car. All three were charged with burglary and possession of burglar tools.

•A marked police vehicle was parked in front of 40-11 28th Ave. while the officer driving it was responding to a call of an intoxicated male. A 33-year-old Hispanic man driving a 1998 Lincoln rear-ended the police vehicle. The Lincoln’s driver was observed stumbling out of the vehicle, smelling of alcohol. He was arrested, charged with driving while intoxicated and removed to the 114th Precinct.

—Compiled by Linda J. Wilson