Beekman in the Bronx

FEDERAL ROUNDUPS NABS MELROSE DRUG CREW

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN (NYDN)

Melrose residents Wednesday applauded the arrests of suspected murderous thugs from the Courtlandt Ave. Crew and God’s Favorite Children street gangs, but also braced for a possible spike in violence if new outfits compete to fill the void.

Police and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives busted the Courtlandt Ave. Crew on Tuesday, socking eight men with murder, racketeering, drug trafficking and weapons possession charges.

PASTORS SEEK RIGHT TONE AT RITES FOR MURDERED COUPLE

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN AND HELEN KENNEDY (NYDN)

It’s never easy finding the right words at a funeral for victims of a bizarre murder, like Wednesday’s service for the Queens couple executed as they slept.

But when a grieving son in the front pew is under suspicion in the slayings, the eulogy gets even more delicate.

SYRACUSE TEEN GETS 2-6 YEARS FOR 7 CENTS ROBBERY

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN AND PHILIP CAULFIELD (NYDN)

A Syracuse teen is going away for up to six years as a convicted felon for a mugging that netted him just seven cents - or about a year per penny he stole.

Anthony Stewart, 15, was convicted of punching 73-year-old Eugene DeGroat in the face last December while an accomplice kicked the old man in the head.

BRONX MAN SHOT OVER 50 CENTS AFTER DEFENDING HIS BROTHER

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN AND BOB KAPPSTATTER (NYDN)

A Bronx man was shot to death while defending his little brother during an argument that started over 50 cents, police and the brother said.

TENANTS AT DIEGO BEEKMAN HOUSES STAND UP AND FIGHT

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN (NYDN)

They stood up to a slumlord, ruthless gangsters, predatory investors and the federal government. Now tenants at the Diego Beekman Houses are standing up to be recognized.

NEW STATE LAW WOULD BAIL OUT BRONX DEFENDANTS

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN (NYDN)

Thousands of Bronxites do hard time at Rikers Island because they can’t afford to post bail.

But new legislation headed to Gov. Cuomo’s desk could set them free.

10 ARRESTED IN FORDHAM DRUG RING TAKEDOWN

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN (NYDN)

The FBI and NYPD busted a ruthless Fordham drug gang Wednesday morning, rounding up suspects in the Bronx, Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico.

The takedown of the “Creston Ave. Crew” was the result of a lengthy investigation documenting the sale of at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and at least five kilograms of cocaine from 2004 to the present.

FBI HUNTING FOR ALLEGED SEX MONEY MURDER CRACK DEALER

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN (NYDN)

The FBI is hunting for a Bronx man accused of dealing crack cocaine out of the rough-and-tumble Soundview Houses and running with the violent street gang Sex Money Murder.

500-POUND PUBLIC PIANO STOLEN FROM BRONX PARK

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN (NYDN)

Bronx music lovers are singing the blues after a brightly-painted, 500-pound piano - one of 88 installed in parks around the city - was apparently stolen from a Norwood park.

Local ivory-ticklers and the group that put the upright piano in Williamsbridge Oval Park were stunned. It’s the first instrument to go missing during the project.

HAVE GUN? WILL TRAVEL TO BRONX CHURCHES FOR BUYBACK

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN (NYDN)

Deadly shootings in the Bronx over the Memorial Day weekend have heightened the urgency for getting firearms off the streets, and make more timely the gun buyback program that will be held this Saturday at three borough churches.