Police Seek Information As Lieutenant Is Assaulted
BY LINDA J. WILSON

After viciously beating 114th Police Precinct L i e u t e n a n t Wade Kern at about 4:16 a.m. on S a t u r d a y , January 22 outside the Astoria Sports Complex, 34- 38 38th St., suspects fled in a white minivan.

As reported in the Gazette last week, police are seeking several Hispanic males who were involved in a confrontation with Lieutenant Wade Kern and Police Officer Joseph Morabito from the 114th Precinct outside the Astoria Sports Complex, 34-38 38th St. As Kern and Morabito were arresting Edison Vera of Ridgewood at approximately 4:16 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, the suspects attacked Kern from behind and punched and kicked him in the face, then fled in a white minivan. Kern was severely injured in the attack.

Anyone with information can call the 114th Detective Squad at 718-626-9334 or Crimestoppers at 646-610-6806. All information will be kept confidential, and anyone who calls Crimestoppers may be eligible for a monetary award.

114th Precinct Blotter

Friday, January 19:

+ During the past month, a 31-year-old white male ordered $3,000 worth of food from a restaurant by phone and paid for the orders with stolen credit cards. He was charged with identity theft and grand larceny, a felony. The incident took place at 39-46 27th St.

+ A 50-year-old white male observed inside 24-39 47th St. without permission or authority was charged with burglary, petit larceny and criminal trespass.

+ After a 24-year-old black male failed to signal and was stopped at Astoria Boulevard and 14th Street, he was found to have a suspended license. The car he was driving was a rental; he was not a listed driver on the rental agreement. He was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and unlicensed operator.

+ When police responded to a vehicle accident at 23rd Street and 39th Avenue, they found that the driver, a 33-year-old Hispanic male, had a suspended license. The driver was charged with unlicensed operator.

Saturday, January 20:

+ Two Hispanic males 50 and 56 years old were charged with criminal nuisance and operating an unlicensed bottle club after they were found inside 33-02 36th Ave. operating a full bar after 4 a.m. and without a license to sell alcohol.

+ A 32-year-old Hispanic male disobeyed a steady red light signal. When he was stopped at Crescent Street and 37th Avenue, he was found to have a suspended license. An arrest warrant had also been issued in his name. He was charged with unlicensed operator.

+ A 33-year-old black male was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny after he was observed by a store manager taking items without permission and authority and passing all points of payment at 9-16 Main Ave.

+ A 39-year-old Hispanic male was stopped at 20th Avenue and 21st Street after he was observed making an illegal U-turn, impeding vehicular traffic. He did not have a driver's license and forged Pennsylvania annual inspection windshield stickers were affixed to the vehicle. He was charged with possession of a forged instrument and driving without a license.

+ A 36-year-old black male was observed with a lit marijuana cigarette in public at 38th Street and 35th Avenue. When he was searched after his arrest a glassine envelope of marijuana was found in his pocket. He was charged with criminal possession of marijuana.

Sunday, January 21:

+ A 35-year-old Hispanic female was selling soda from her vehicle to a passing vehicle which had to double-park, impeding vehicular traffic, outside the Astoria Sports Complex at 34-38 38th St. She was charged with unlicensed vendor and obstructing traffic.

+ When he was stopped at a checkpoint at 38th Avenue and 35th Street, a 34-year-old Hispanic male switched from the driver's to the passenger's seat of his vehicle and produced a forged ID card. He was charged with forgery and driving without a license.

+ A 27-year-old Hispanic male driving with defective brake lights was stopped at 39th Avenue and 22nd Street. He admitted that he did not have the owner's permission to be driving the vehicle and that he did not possess a driver's license. He also possessed a forged insurance card. He was charged with forgery, unauthorized use of a vehicle and having no license.

Monday, January 22:

+ An 18-year-old black male was stopped at Long Island City H.S., 14-30 Broadway, for suspicion of marijuana and made furtive movements when police approached. He stated he had a blade on him and was also found in possession of New York City Department of Education property without permission or authority. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property.

+ A 40-year-old Hispanic male disobeyed a signal at Astoria Boulevard and Crescent Street. When he was stopped, a DMV check revealed that his license was revoked for his incurring 31 suspensions on 12 dates. His vehicle inspection sticker was also expired. He was charged with felony aggravated unlicensed operator and disobeying a traffic device.

+ A 20-year-old white male was stopped at the BQE and 49th Street at 4:10 a.m. for driving with no headlights. He also was not wearing a seatbelt and produced a forged Uniformed Services ID card. He was charged with possession of a forged instrument and driving without a seatbelt.

+ A 35-year-old white male was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny after he removed property from a store at 50-10 Northern Blvd., put it in his pocket and attempted to leave the store without paying.

Tuesday, January 23:

+ At 3rd Street and 27th Avenue a 25- year-old black male approached a victim, put his hand in his right pocket simulating a firearm, and demanded the victim's property from his bag. The perpetrator ripped property out of the bag and fled on foot. He was arrested and charged with robbery, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property.

+ A 26-year-old Hispanic male was involved in a vehicle accident at 30th Avenue and 47th Street that caused damage to his vehicle and two others and injury to a passenger in the rear seat of one vehicle. He was found to be intoxicated, but refused testing for blood alcohol content. He also had a suspended license. He was charged with DWI and unlicensed operator.

+ A 37-year-old black male had a verbal dispute inside a check-cashing establishment at 41-06 12th St. with a male victim. He followed the victim outside, grabbed him from behind, lifted him off his feet and threw him to the ground, causing a laceration to the back of the victim's head and substantial pain. The perpetrator was charged with assault with intent to cause physical injury.

+ Two males, an Asian 17 years old and a white 15 years old, were observed with a hammer and screwdriver removing cement tiles from a railing inside Athens Square Park at 30th Street and 30th Avenue. Both were charged with criminal mischief and possession of burglars' tools.

+ An 18-year-old white male was stopped in the rear of 30-50 35th St. on suspicion of making graffiti. When frisked, he was found in possession of a gravity knife. A search incidental to his arrest recovered one bag of marijuana. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of marijuana.

+ A 31-year-old white male stopped for driving with a defective rear light at Ditmars Boulevard and Steinway Street was found to have seven suspensions on his driver's license. He was charged with unlicensed operator.