Creston Ave. Crew Busted in Drug Raid

Editor's Note: This article was first published in the latest edition of the Norwood News, on the streets and online now.

By Alex Kratz

Over the past several years, the area around Creston Avenue, just north of St. James Park, has built a reputation as a hot spot for the drug trade. Periodic violence highlighted the turf wars that accompanied it. Earlier this month, however, local and federal authorities made a big dent in curbing Creston’s infamous image.

Culminating a year-long investigation by the FBI and NYPD with an early morning raid on the so-called “Creston Avenue Crew,” police arrested eight people in the Bronx and three in Puerto Rico. A handful of others were already in custody, while two other Bronxites and a mysterious man named Fnu Lnu (no address was given), also known as “Jesse,” remain at large. In total, charges were filed against 20 people for drug trafficking, firearms and money laundering.

In the course of the raid, authorities discovered three guns, pounds of marijuana, marijuana growing equipment, scales, a police scanner, cocaine and thousands of dollars in cash. It amounted to a fraction of what the organization brought in and distributed over the past five years, law enforcement officials said.

Stories Not About Politics in Norwood News

While we're waiting for election results, just a reminder: the latest edition of the Norwood News is out on streets and online now. Here's a sampling of some non-election stories you'll find.

Rashaad Ernesto Green, a young film director from the Bronx is putting the final touches on his new movie, "Gun Hill Road" -- filmed largely on and around, you guessed it, Gun Hill Road.

Police are still looking for witnesses to come forward with information about killing of a 20-year-old father who was exiting St. James Park in University Heights. The victim was shot six or seven times in the chest in broad daylight. Police and experts say it's difficult to find witnesses willing to aid in the investigation of violent crimes for a variety of reasons.

Plus more crime news in our Police Report.

As part of the Norwood News' new "Be Healthy" section, we profile a new kidney transplant clinic that caters to Spanish speakers. and also offer some health tips for parents with kids heading back to school. 

A Norwood artist looks to break into the world of cartooning.

In our Business Beat section, we take a look at the string of shops offering fruit smoothies in the area.

Also, don't forget to access our online-expanded Neighborhood Notes section for all the latest on local programs, services, events and announcements.

Vigil for Shooting Victim in St. James Park (Plus Video)

Murder victim Jelani Ciria's girlfriend, daughter and brother (center), flanked by Councilman Fernando Cabrera (far left), Bishop Fernando Rodriguez (second from right), and State Senator Pedro Espada, called for justice in St. James Park yesterday.

The brutal murder of a 20-year-old Bronx man on Sunday evening in St. James Park led local political and religious leaders and members of the community -- including the victim's victim's girlfriend, 11-month-old daughter and brother -- to hold a prayer vigil in the park and call for justice as well as an end to violence that is increasing throughout the borough.

Police said Jelani Ciria was shot multiple times (the family and Councilman Fernando Cabrera say it was 16 times) on Sunday at about 6:10 p.m. as he exited St. James Park. Family members say the murder was a gang related hit and added that "We know who did it." Cabrera called for witnesses to come forward in the name of justice.

At the prayer vigil, Ciria's family was accompanied by other Bronx families who had recently lost loved ones to gun violence in the same neighborhood.

Before the vigil began,Cabrera, along with State Senator Pedro Espada Jr., who both count St. James as part of their district, consoled the Ciria family and listened to their painful pleas for justice and action in finding the murderer.

Espada offered a $5,000 reward to anyone offering information leading to the arrest of Ciria's murderer and said he would work with law enforcement to install a surveillance system in the park.


St. James Park Prayer Vigil from Alex Kratz on Vimeo.

Cabrera (see video above) called the recent increase in murders -- up 22% from this time last year, though shootings are slightly down, according to NYPD stats -- throughout the Bronx a case of "urban terrorism." He called for community action from citizens to report illegal guns and activity to the police and urged citizens to call police hotlines with any information that could prevent future violence.

One of the vigil's chief organizers, Bishop Fernando Rodriguez, president of the Latin and African American Chaplain's Association (LACA), said his group and others were working towards planning future rallies and marches to bring attention to the increased violence.