Bronx News Roundup, Aug. 17

Weather: Enjoy today, Bronxites, because we're in for more rain tomorrow. It'll be in the high 80s this afternoon and mostly sunny.

Story of the Day: 52nd Precinct Detective Nabbed on Robbery Charges
A veteran NYPD detective based out of the 52nd Precinct--which includes Bedford Park, Norwood and University Heights--was arrested Monday on conspiracy and robbery charges, several news outlets are reporting today. Kyron Collins, 39, along with two non-police accomplices, are accused of committing a string of robberies over the last year, in which they allegedly targeted people selling contraband cigarettes. Collins supposedly used his NYPD shield, a firearm and fake search warrants in carrying out the thefts. The NY Post reports that Collins is a second-generation officer; his father is a retired NYPD cop.

Bronx mom Nicole Perrino started her own blog, www.BronxMama.com, as resource for parents looking for local, kid-friendly events. 

Three men beat and robbed a man on Creston Avenue last week, stealing his belongings and a beloved-bible. 

Bronx Crime Watch: Police Search for West Farms Boy

By David Greene

Police are asking the public's help in locating a missing child, who disappeared from his home on Honeywell Avenue in the West Farms section.

Reakwon Marshall, 11, was last seen at his home at 2103 Honeywell Ave., at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10. Marshall is 4' 11'' and weighs 115 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt and black jeans.

Anyone with any information on his whereabouts are asked to call CrimeStoppers at 1 (800) 577-TIPS.

Bronx News Weekend Roundup, June 13

Weather: Partly cloudy and cool today, with a chance of light showers later this evening.

Quick Hits:
State Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr. says he's received death threats for his fierce opposition to same-sex marriage, according to this AP piece about conservative gay-rights opponents who claim they've been "bullied," for their views.

Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is holding a special strategy session in Albany today, as he prepares to make one final push for a same-sex marriage bill before the legislature adjourns at the end of this week.

A 15-year-old girl was shot in the back of the head outside of a party in Fordham Heights Saturday night. Yvette Marie Torres, a student at DeWitt Clinton High School, is in critical condition at St. Barnabas Hospital. So far, there have been no arrests.

Anti-hunger advocates and Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera want New York to rename its food stamps program to its federally-known moniker--the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)--in an attempt to reduce the stigma attached to applying for the benefits.

The federal government is pushing for state courts to curb medical costs by encouraging judges to settle malpractice cases way before they get to trial. The tactic, known as judge-directed negotiation, started locally in the Bronx State Supreme Court and is being expanded to other counties.

The Bronx Academy of Art and Dance, aka BAAD!, is hosting its 11th annual "Out Like That!" festival this week; there's a schedule of performances and events at the link.

A Long Island construction company that received millions of dollars from the MTA to install security fences around the authority's warehouses and transit depots has been found guilty of grand larceny, after supposedly submitting bogus or inflated invoices for years. 

Police have released surveillance footage of three men believed guilty of shooting four people--including a pregnant woman--at a BBQ in Castle Hill last week.

Another bout of gun violence left a 5-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man wounded on Friday. The victims of both shootings survived.

A 62-year-old man collapsed and died following a scuffle with police officers at a Morrisania homeless shelter on Friday, and autopsy results are pending.  Police had been called the the Webster Avenue shelter by administrators who said the man had been fighting with other residents.

The annual Riverdale Riverfest took place yesterday.

A 12-year-old Bronx boy has been missing since Friday; photo at the link.

Editor's Note: BxNN will keep posting this clock in our daily news roundups -- tallying the days until the NYPD releases neighborhood sector crime stats, which we requested from them via a Freedom of Information Law request last year. For some background, see our Norwood News' editorial here.

Update: Missing Student Found, Reunited with Family

Yesterday afternoon, Selena Pruden, 16, a junior at Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music, was found and then later reunited with her family with help from police. She had been missing since last Wednesday, May 14 and was last seen going to school carrying her viola.

It's unclear what exactly happened to Selena, but Celia Cruz Principal William Rodriguez said someone had spotted her after seeing a new item about her disappearance on the cable news channel, Bronx 12. He said later last night "police interceded" and now Selena is "safely home."

Earlier yesterday, Celia Cruz held an emotional assembly in support of the search effort for Selena. Her mother Geraldine Hoggis attended the assembly and spoke to students. Her daughter, Selena, was found several hours later, according to Rodriguez.

Bronx Student Missing

We just found out about this today, but Selena, 16, went missing last Wednesday, May 14. She left her Kingsbridge-area home for Celia Cruz (on the Walton H.S. campus) in the morning with her viola and has not been seen since.

Celia Cruz Principal William Rodriguez said Selena was a great student (with a stellar attendance record) who loved music. He said nobody at school could imagine her just running away without telling anyone.

Celia Cruz held an assembly today in support of an effort to find Selena. They are distributing flyers like the one above to neighborhoods throughout the northwest Bronx.

NYPD is not being very forthcoming with information on the case so far, but according to a detective at the 50th Precinct, detectives there are still working on the case and have not transferred it to the missing persons department.

Again, if anyone has information about Selena's whereabouts, please call Celia Cruz, 718-329-8550 ext. 3565 or the 50th Precinct 718-543-5700.