Regional Briefs – December 19, 2018

Deliveryman Arrested For Stealing Amazon Packages

KEANSBURG, N.J. – A deliveryman made some pickups he wasn’t supposed to. William Tindall, 25, a driver for Last Mile Delivery, was arrested for taking Amazon packages he was supposed to deliver. Surveillance video showed him placing a package on a porch, then returning to steal other packages.

NYPD Using Firearms at Lowest Rate On Record

NEW YORK – NYPD officers are using Tasers more frequently, while firing on suspects fell last year to 52, the lowest since tracking the use of force began. But 10 suspects were fatally shot, an increase from nine in 2016. “NYPD cops are among the most restrained law enforcement officers in the United States,” Commissioner O’Neill said.

Car Thief Takes Advantage Of Automatic Starter

BRONX – A mother taking her child to school tackled a man who was stealing her SUV she had started using an automatic car starter, WNBC reported. “He’s lucky I didn’t kill him,” said Tihisha Jones, adding that she was on adrenaline.

Brooklyn Man Sentenced for Scamming $2.6M From Lowe’s

BUFFALO – A Brooklyn man was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for scamming a Lowe’s home improvement store out of $2.6 million, The Associated Press reported. Kenneth Cassidy, 52, opened 170 fraudulent accounts and paid with fake checks.

Man Charged for Shooting Bald Eagle as Coyote Bait

CAROLINE, N.Y. – A hunter was charged with fatally shooting a bald eagle who had been drawn to dead deer placed as bait for coyotes, The Associated Press reported. The man said he mistook the eagle for a turkey vulture, which is also a protected species.

Frederick Douglass Statue Damaged During Theft

ROCHESTER – Two college students were arrested for damaging a statue of Frederick Douglass during an attempted theft, WHEC reported. The 21- and 20-year-olds tore the 6-foot statue loose and ran down the street with it. The bust is one of 13 erected in the city in honor of the abolitionist’s 200th birthday.