An NYPD officer sustained minor leg injuries after being struck by a car that he had pulled over in Travis, Staten Island, on Wednesday morning. The officer was conducting a car stop involving a gray Jeep when the incident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. After the officer exited his vehicle, the Jeep sideswiped him while pulling out. The driver of the Jeep was apprehended, and the officer was taken to Staten Island University Hospital in stable condition.
Councilmember Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) has introduced a resolution calling for an equal number of OMNY card vending machines in each borough. The resolution cites that the MTA should implement at least 30 OMNY vending machines in high-traffic areas for each borough. Currently, there are 10 MetroCard vending machines on Staten Island, which are being phased out. Hanks argues that the $1 fee when purchasing a new OMNY card at a brick-and-mortar store is a “hidden” tax, as there is no way to refill an existing card at a store. The MTA has stated that it plans to install OMNY card vending machines at select stations along the Staten Island Railway and that existing MetroCard machines will remain for the foreseeable future.
A 19-year-old man was slashed across the face in front of a business in a busy Eltingville shopping center on Tuesday night. Four male teenagers, ranging in age from 14 to 15, were apprehended by police. The victim was taken to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze in stable condition. An investigation is currently underway, and no knife has been recovered from the scene.
On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, over 150 community members gathered outside Borough Hall in St. George, Staten Island, to show their support for Denim Day, an annual event that raises awareness about sexual assault. Speakers from the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office, Community Health Action of Staten Island, the William L. Murphy Staten Island Family Justice Center, and Safe Horizon spoke about the importance of consent, the history of Denim Day, and the need to stand in solidarity with victims of sexual assault. “As we wear our denim today, we stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual abuse and reiterate the importance of consent, and that ‘no’ will always mean ‘no,’” said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. “And no victim should ever be told that an act of sexual assault is their fault.”
A Staten Island man was found dead behind a local pizzeria on Sunday morning. According to a neighbor, the victim, identified as 34-year-old Julio Morocho, was drunk and asked to be taken to the pizza joint just hours before his body was discovered. Surveillance video captured two people, allegedly including the neighbor, wheeling Morocho to the pizzeria shortly after 2 a.m. The neighbor claimed that Morocho was not injured and only needed help getting up. However, the victim’s roommate told cops that he took “a narcotic in powder form” earlier in the night and dropped him off outside after he found him “unresponsive.” The cause of Morocho’s death is still under investigation, and no one has been charged.
A clumsy thief stole a big-screen TV from St. John’s University in Staten Island, hitting himself in the face with the set as he fled. The suspect, described as a college-aged man with a light complexion and a slim build, was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, a gray hat, dark-colored jeans, and white and black sneakers. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline.
Marcelino Allende, 31, of Staten Island, is being held on bail after being arraigned on charges stemming from a March 25 incident in which he allegedly swung a knife at police officers who had come to arrest him. Allende, who is facing felony charges including criminal possession of a weapon, menacing an officer, and resisting arrest, was held on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond at 10% by Justice Lisa Grey. According to the criminal complaint, members of the warrant squad showed up at his door, identifying themselves and notifying him he was under arrest in connection with a prior assault. Allende opened his door, armed with a knife, and started swinging. One officer discharged a taser that was ineffective, and another discharged one round from his firearm, causing no injuries. The proceedings were adjourned to May 8th.
After experiencing unusually fluctuating temperatures throughout April, with highs and lows below and above average, Staten Island residents can expect a gradual warming trend that will usher in more consistent summer-like temperatures by the end of the month. According to meteorologist David Stark of the National Weather Service (NWS), temperatures will rise in the coming days, reaching the lower 60s on Tuesday, the upper 60s on Wednesday, and briefly into the upper 60s before dipping back into the mid and upper 50s for Thursday and Friday. Starting Saturday, a gradual warming trend will commence, with temperatures climbing near 60 and continuing into the 70s on Sunday and early next week, with highs around 76 on Sunday and 79 on Monday. The return to warmer temperatures is expected to continue into early May. Stark noted that it is not uncommon for air mass changes to alter temperatures in the spring and that the recent warm-ups are likely to persist in the coming weeks.
On Monday, January 24, 2023, two separate incidents involving gunfire occurred on Staten Island’s North Shore. In West Brighton, a 39-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to Richmond University Medical Center, where he is expected to recover. No arrests have been made, and the suspect is described as a Black male. Meanwhile, in Stapleton, shots were fired on Warren Street, with two .45-caliber shell casings found. No injuries or property damage were reported, and the investigation is ongoing.
Local environmentalist organizations joined forces with Clean Ocean Action (COA) to host the 5th Annual Staten Island Student Summit, an educational day filled with hands-on scientific experiences for local students. Students from various elementary schools and Staten Island Academy took on the role of marine biologists, engaging in interactive presentations led by experts from organizations such as the Natural Resources and Protective Association, Great Kills National Park Service, Billion Oyster Project, Staten Island Zoo, and more. The event aimed to foster environmental awareness, inspire students to become stewards of their natural surroundings, and promote the conservation of Staten Island’s marine life.
