Weekend Crime Blotter: Arrests Made in Multiple Murders, A Subway Punch-Up & More

BUSHWICK – Police have released surveillance video that shows a man wanted for question in connection with the stabbing death of 46-year old James Otis in Bushwick last week.

The former MTA bus driver, who used a wheelchair, was stabbed and killed in his home on Central Avenue last week. The video of the possible suspect can be seen below:

FLATBUSH – On Saturday, April 21, police arrested 16-year old Kobe Franklyn in the death of Jerome Spence, who was shot outside his Sterling Street home in Prospect Lefferts Gardens on the last weekend in March.

Franklyn, who lives in Flatbush, was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.

BAY RIDGE – Police have released the photo of a suspect that pistol-whipped a man in Bay Ridge last week as part of a group robbery.

Five men approached the 24-year old male victim at 86th Street and 5th Avenue around 10:00 pm on Saturday, April 14, said police. A dispute broke out and the suspect seen in the picture pulled out a handgun and pistol-whipped the victim in the head, said police. At that time, someone in the group stole the victim’s wallet.

The attackers fled, but responding police were able to quickly canvass the area and within 20 minutes had arrested Muddasar Rafiq, 21, nearby. Rafiq was charged with robbery and assault, said police.

Police are still on the lookout for the suspect that struck the victim, and the unidentified individual’s photo can be seen below:

BROWNSVILLE – Two men in their twenties are wanted by police after robbing a delivery driver and stealing his food outside the Van Dyke Houses in Brownsville.

When the 23-year old delivery man rolled up to 414 Sutter Avenue at noon on Friday, April 13, he was approached by the two suspects, who demanded his money and cell phone, said police. The suspects then punched the delivery man in the face and stole his food before fleeing in an unknown direction.

The suspects can be seen on surveillance video below:

MIDWOOD – Police are looking for two suspects that assaulted and tried to rob a man in Midwood before being scared off by a stranger.

On Sunday, April 8, around 2:00 pm, a 44-year old man was walking along East 17th Street, approaching Wellington Court when he was jumped from behind by two individuals, said police. They punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground, where they punched and kicked him multiple times, then attempted to steal his wallet. Luckily, a passerby shouted at them to stop and they fled, said police.

Video of the suspects taken from a nearby subway station can be seen below:

KINGS HIGHWAY – Police are looking for the man who got into a subway brawl on a southbound B train last month at Kings Highway station.

Just before 6:00 pm on Friday, March 2, two men were involved in a verbal dispute that turned physical when the suspect repeatedly punched the 27-year old victim in the face, breaking his glasses and cutting his face, said police.

The suspect fled the station in an unknown direction and the victim was treated for his injuries at the scene. A photo of the attacker taken from surveillance video can be seen below:

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.