Weekend Crime Blotter: Snatch-and-Grab on Brighton Beach Ave, A Cop Arrested for Assault & More

BRIGHTON BEACH – Police are looking for a group of teens wanted in a string of snatch-and-grab robberies along Brighton Beach Avenue.

From April until June, the crew of robbers struck at least five times, usually around midday. They targeted the elderly, and mostly women, approaching from behind and grabbing wallets out of the hands of their targets, said police.

Usually, they made off with some cash or cell phones. Surveillance videos and photos of the suspects can be seen below:

CANARSIE – An off-duty NYPD officer was arrested and charged with assault on Saturday, June 16, in Canarsie, police confirmed.

Schnieder Joanis, 26, reportedly punched his girlfriend as she was getting into a cab outside her home in Canarsie. Joanis has been with the NYPD for two years.

EAST NEW YORK – In a tragic turn, a man riding his motorcycle was killed in a collision with a car at Linden Boulevard and Hinsdale Street in East New York—while following behind a funeral procession.

The crash took place around 10:30 am on Saturday, June 16, after a 26-year old female stopped her ’07 Nissan Murano to let the funeral procession pass, said police. When the procession had gone by, she pulled into the intersection and was struck by the 39-year old man riding a motorcycle.

EMS arrived and transported the man to Brookdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the car was also taken to the hospital, though in stable condition.

Police are investigating the collision, but at this time, no arrests have been made. The name of the deceased has been withheld pending family notification.

FORT GREENE – Finally, Pix11 reported a stabbing that took place after a robbery Friday afternoon, near Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue in Fort Greene.

Reportedly, 43-year old Akeem Roberts approached a man on the corner around 4:25 pm and threatened him, eventually taking $375 from the victim.

Roberts crossed the street after the robbery, and almost immediately someone approached him from behind, stabbing the thief repeatedly in the head, chest, ribs and eye. The attacker fled, and EMS transported Roberts to the hospital in serious condition.

Police are on the lookout of the as-of-yet unidentified attacker.

Anyone with information in regard to any of these incidents 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.