LONG ISLAND CRIME BRIEFS
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NEW HYDE PARK/Service suspended after person hit, killed by train
A person was struck and killed yesterday afternoon on the Long Island Rail Road tracks west of New Hyde Park and service was temporarily suspended in both directions between Jamaica and Mineola, the LIRR said.
LIRR spokesman Salvatore Arena said the "unauthorized person" who was on the tracks near the Covert Avenue crossing was struck about 3:25 p.m.
Service resumed but there were residual delays.
-- LAURA FIGUEROA
MERRICK/Construction worker at home accused of burglary
Nassau County police arrested a construction worker from Brooklyn on Saturday for allegedly stealing jewelry from a Merrick home where he was working.
Zaheer Ahmad, 21, was doing exterior construction work for Crown Builders Corp. on a home on Charlotte Drive on Thursday when, police said, he entered the bedroom of the home and took jewelry.
Police arrested Ahmad and charged him with second-degree burglary. He was scheduled to be arraigned yesterday at First District Court in Hempstead.
The jewelry was not recovered.
-- JENNIFER BARRIOS
Lakeview/Cops: Vendor found online turned out to be robber
A 44-year-old Nassau man expecting to meet with a vendor he met online and purchase a Rolex watch was instead met by a man wielding a semiautomatic handgun yesterday afternoon, Nassau police said.
Fourth Squad detectives are investigating the incident that occurred about 1:20 p.m. in Lakeview.
Police said the victim responded to a Craigslist ad selling a Rolex watch, and agreed to meet the vendor on the corner of Robin Court and Park Avenue. When the man arrived, the supposed vendor reached into a blue backpack and removed a black semiautomatic handgun, police said.
A struggle ensued and the suspect broke free and fled in a waiting vehicle onto Eagle Avenue and then west onto the Southern State Parkway, according to a police report. Police described the vehicle as a blue GMC or Chevy SUV and the man as 6 feet tall with a muscular build, police said.
Nassau police ask anyone with information to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477. Callers will remain anonymous.
-- LAURA FIGUEROA
BRENTWOOD/Man wounded in shooting during argument on street
A Queens man was shot and wounded during an argument in Brentwood early yesterday morning, Suffolk County police said.
Police said Darius Cargill, 23, of Corona, was with a group of people on Noble Street at 4:18 a.m. when an argument broke out.
Cargill was wounded in the arm and abdomen, police said. He was taken to Southside Hospital, where he was treated for his wounds.
Police have not made any arrests, but the investigation continues.
-- JENNIFER BARRIOS
QUOGUE/Pair charged with stealing auto parts at salvage yard
Southampton Town police arrested two men from Bay Shore on Saturday morning who, they said, stole auto parts from a salvage yard in Quogue.
Police said Manuel Beltran, 49, and Elgar Pinto, 31, were at J&V Auto Salvage on South Country Road at 9:40 a.m. when employees reported that the two tried to leave with $500 worth of auto parts that they had not purchased.
Police arrested both men and charged each with petty larceny. They were released on bail and will appear in Southampton Town justice court, police said.
-- JENNIFER BARRIOS
'I'm going to try to avoid it' A trip to the emergency room in a Long Island hospital now averages nearly 4 hours, data shows. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports.