GRAND LARCENY: Pilfered Pooch
A Brussels Griffon dog valued at $2,500 was stolen from its playpen at CitiPups (147 Eighth Ave., btw. 17th & 18th Sts.). At 5:45 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 21, a woman walked into the store and, oddly, “appeared to be crying,” according to employees. She asked to see the dog and, at one point, placed it in a pink bag and proceeded to walk out of the store (leaving her coffee, but taking the pooch). A canvass of the area by responding officers yielded negative results. Police, who were provided with video surveillance, noted that the dog has been embedded with a microchip. Although not able to track movement, such devices do provide information that enables missing pets to be reunited with their owners.
ROBBERY: Bench Warmer Had Warrant
A 22-year-old woman and her boyfriend, having exited a nearby nightclub at 5 a.m. on Sun., Jan. 25, sat down on a bench near the northeast corner of Ninth Ave. & W. 16th St. They were soon approached by a man who sat down on the woman’s pocketbook. Responding to her protest, he told her, “Shut the f–k up. Give me your money and your cell phone or I will f–k you up.” That foulmouthed threat drew the attention of an officer in an unmarked vehicle, who found the 57-year-old in possession of the victim’s cell phone. It was also discovered that the perp had an active warrant for his arrest.
LEAVING THE SCENE: Dual Dog Deaths
Two canines were struck, in separate incidents on Wed., Jan. 21. At around 5:20 a.m., a resident of W. 16th St. was walking her dog. While crossing on the 300 block of W. 15th St., a passing vehicle hit the dog and did not stop. The woman was unable to provide police with a make, model, color or plate number. At 6:55 a.m., on the northwest corner of Ninth Ave. & W. 42nd St., a nearby resident was crossing the street — when a truck, making a turn, hit the man and his dog. The man, who told police he had the “walk” signal, suffered minor pain. Both dogs were killed.
MURDER/SUICIDE
Customers, many of them guided by employees, ran from the Home Depot at 40 W. 23rd St. (btw. Fifth & Sixth Aves.), when shots rang out just after 2:30 p.m. on Sun., Jan. 25. Responding EMS workers and NYPD officers from the 13th Precinct found two men in Aisle 12 (the lighting department). An employee of the store, 31-year-old Calvin Esdaile Jr., of Brooklyn, was pronounced dead at the scene — having turned the gun on himself after shooting Moctar Sy, a 38-year-old from the Bronx (witnesses reported overhearing a tense exchange of words, prior to the gunshots). Sy, a store manager, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he died from wounds to the abdomen and chest. A .38-caliber revolver was recovered from the scene.
—Scott Stiffler
THE 10th PRECINCT
Located at 230 W. 20th St. (btw. 7th & 8th Aves.). Commander: Deputy Inspector Michele Irizarry. Main number: 212-741-8211. Community Affairs: 212-741-8226. Crime Prevention: 212-741-8226. Domestic Violence: 212-741-8216. Youth Officer: 212-741-8211. Auxiliary Coordinator: 212-741-8210. Detective Squad: 212-741-8245. The Community Council meets on the last Wed. of the month, 7 p.m., at the 10th Precinct. The next meeting is Feb. 25.
