Queens rapist charged with assault and kidnapping of minors in Kissena Park

TOLEDO, OH— On June 19, a tense confrontation occurred when Toledo police responded to reports that an armed man was making death threats in the area of ​​2100 W. Sylvania Ave. The incident escalated into an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and a police officer who responded to the call.

At approximately 2:15 p.m., Lucas County dispatch received multiple calls reporting a shirtless man brandishing a gun and threatening violence while walking toward the Toledo Police Northwest Substation. The first officer on scene encountered the suspect running south between homes in the 2300 block of W. Sylvania. Despite attempts to deescalate the situation, the suspect fled, resulting in a pursuit.

In a dramatic scene, the suspect, who held a gun to his head and then stripped completely naked, ignored verbal commands and continued to flee naked. The pursuit continued onto Charlestown Avenue and then onto Kershaw, where the suspect shot at the pursuing officer. The officer returned fire with his service weapon.

The pursuit ended in the 2400 block of Georgetown, where the suspect discarded his weapon and was arrested without further incident. He was taken to a hospital as a precaution and was found to have an active domestic violence warrant. He is charged with aggravated assault on a police officer.

Per protocol, the officer involved in the shooting was placed on paid administrative leave. The department will release the officer’s information, as well as body-worn camera and dashboard camera footage, shortly. No injuries were reported in the incident.

BRONX, NY – A violent altercation on Walton Avenue ended in a shooting that left a 31-year-old man seriously injured. The incident occurred at 1356 Walton Avenue.

On Sunday, January 21, at approximately 10:15 p.m., the victim got into an argument with a person he knew. During the altercation, the attacker produced a firearm and shot the victim in the right chest. After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene heading south on Walton Avenue.

The injured man was immediately taken by emergency services to NYC Health and Hospital/Lincoln, where his condition is currently critical but stable.

STATEN ISLAND, NY – The New York Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying and locating a man wanted in connection with a sexual assault incident that occurred in the 120th Precinct on Staten Island.

Early Wednesday morning, around 4:20 a.m., a 35-year-old woman was attacked while she was sleeping on the ground near 1 Richmond Terrace. The suspect sexually assaulted the woman and then fled on foot in an unknown direction. The victim did not suffer any life-threatening physical injuries during the ordeal.

Authorities describe the suspect as a light-skinned man, approximately 5’7″ tall and of medium build. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with white lettering, blue jeans and red and black sneakers.

The NYPD urges anyone with information regarding this incident or the suspect to come forward to assist the investigation and ensure the safety of the community.

FLEMINGTON, NJ—Malik D. Johnston, also known as Pippin J. Folk, 48, of Flemington, pleaded guilty to second-degree trafficking in cocaine. The plea was entered today before Judge Christopher J. Garrenger in Hunterdon County Superior Court.

Hunterdon County District Attorney Renée M. Robeson reported that the agreement includes a recommended sentence of five years in state prison. In addition, Johnston has agreed to surrender a motor vehicle and U.S. currency seized during the drug investigation. He will also pay damages to the Flemington Democratic Club related to a June 2023 theft charge that will be dropped as part of this global settlement of his cases.

The charges stemmed from a joint investigation by the Hunterdon County District Attorney’s Office Narcotics Task Force and the Flemington County Police Department. In January and February 2023, Johnston was involved in the sale of significant quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Raritan Township. Additional evidence showed that he possessed these substances with the intent to distribute them in Flemington.

Johnston’s sentencing is scheduled for August 30, 2024. He is represented by attorneys Christopher J. Vaccaro and Daniel W. Frascella III, while First Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Paravecchia represents the state.

HARTLY, DE— Delaware State Police arrested Paul Rowan, 53, of Smyrna, for his seventh DUI after he was involved in an accident involving injuries yesterday afternoon. The incident occurred at approximately 12:19 p.m. in the 2000 block of Slaughter Station Road in Hartly.

When police responded to an overturned Isuzu Rodeo, they encountered Rowan and a 45-year-old female passenger fleeing the scene. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. During the on-scene investigation, officers discovered drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Further examination at the hospital revealed signs of impairment in Rowan, which prompted officers to administer standardized sobriety tests. A subsequent computer check revealed that Rowan had a previous conviction for drunk driving.

After being released from the hospital, Rowan was placed in Squad 3 and faced several charges. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace 2 and is currently being held at Sussex Correctional Institution on $23,750 bail.

TRENTON, NJ—The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has announced the distribution of $6,552,869 in Small Cities Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to various ineligible municipalities and counties across the state. This funding will support 22 projects in 17 local government agencies in eight counties administered by DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Resources.

The grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and are part of the CDBG program, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. These funds are designed to help smaller cities improve public facilities, rehabilitate housing and upgrade infrastructure to improve the quality of life of residents, especially those with limited financial resources.

This year’s grants will enable a range of improvements, including improving accessibility to parks, recreation facilities and municipal buildings under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), upgrading wastewater systems, expanding public utilities and rehabilitating housing to eliminate safety hazards such as lead paint. This is also due in part to an additional $1.4 million from the American Rescue Plan (ARP).

The Small Town CDBG program is designed to assist municipalities and counties that serve fewer than 50,000 residents and do not receive direct HUD funds. These grants support local projects that meet critical community needs and are aligned with one of three federal goals: assisting low- and moderate-income individuals, assisting in preventing or eliminating slums or decay, or addressing pressing threats to community health and welfare.