Routine Traffic Stop Nets Officers Suspects in Bank Robbery

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The New York Sun

Two men stopped for not wearing their seat belts in Morningside Heights turned out to be wanted for a bank robbery in Linden, N.J., police said yesterday.


Officers Carlos Grullon and Richard Gazzano made the routine stop on Tuesday in front of 603 W. 125th St., pulling over a white 2004 Acura because the driver, Alan Lott, 45, was not wearing a seat belt, according to police. During the stop, the officers noticed that the car had bullet holes in it, and further investigation showed that the vehicle was wanted in connection with a robbery that happened five days ago. The passenger, Michael Knowles, 43, was found to have a gunshot wound in his leg.


According to police, the robbery took place at about 2:51 p.m. at the Liberty Bank at 501 North Wood Ave. The suspects robbed the bank at gunpoint and fled the scene in the white Acura with roughly $8600 in cash. An off-duty Linden police officer fired shots at the car as it left.


Messrs. Lott and Knowles are under arrest, and charges are pending. Mr. Knowles was admitted to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment for the gunshot wound, which he had been suffering from for the past five days, police said.


HOMICIDE IN BROOKLYN


Police found the body of a man who was shot twice in the head in front of a Brooklyn housing project yesterday, police said.


According to police, the victim, a black male in his 30s, was not carrying any ID, and has not yet been identified by the police. He was found at 7:03 p.m. in front of the Ingersoll Houses in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, at 8 Fleet Walk, and pronounced dead on the scene.


No arrests have been made, and police do not have any suspects at this time.


The investigation is ongoing.


WOMAN KILLED IN QUEENS


A 56-year-old woman found with a serious head injury and who had apparently been robbed in Flushing, Queens, died in the hospital, police said yesterday.


According to police, the victim, Taneja Usha of 25-23 120th St., was found on the ground in front of her home in Flushing on August 20 and taken to Queens Hospital in critical condition. She died on Tuesday.


Police said a witness saw a 6-foottall Hispanic man running from the scene and driving off in a white commercial van with red and black lettering.


No arrests have been made. Police are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 800-577-TIPS.


POLICE OFFICER ARRESTED


An NYPD officer was arrested and suspended after he picked a 14-yearold boy off the street, forced him into his house, and harassed and threatened him, police said.


According to police, Officer Clive Peters, who was off-duty at the time, ordered the victim into his home, menaced him with a gun, and forced the boy to undress, although there was no sexual conduct.


The victim left Officer Peter’s house and notified his parents, who then called the police.


Officer Peters was arrested Tuesday after an investigation.


He has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful imprisonment, menacing, and official misconduct.


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