By Elizabeth Teitelbaum

Oceanside

The Robbery Squad reported a bank robbery that occurred at the Astoria Federal Savings Bank located at 3535 Long Beach Road on the morning of Feb. 23. The suspect handed the 21-year-old male teller a note demanding money. After being given an unknown amount of money by the teller, the subject left the bank through the front door and was last seen walking eastbound in the parking lot. The subject is described as a white male, 5’10” to 6′ tall, with a medium build, black hair with a receding hair line, in his mid-40’s wearing black glasses, blue jeans, and a cream colored jacket. Seven employees and one customer were in the bank at the time of the robbery, and no one was injured.

New Cassel

The Third Precinct police department responded to a 911 call on the morning of Feb. 24 at 8:55 a.m. at 891 Prospect Ave., where they were met by a female who directed them to Apt. #3. Inside, officers discovered three deceased children, all under the age of seven. Crime Scene Detectives processed the scene while Homicide Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident and the Nassau County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the cause of these deaths. The Homicide Squad reports the arrested, the mother, Leatrice Brewer, 27, in connection with the deaths of her three children: Jewell Ward, 6; Michael Demesyeux, 5; Innocent Demesyeux, male, 8 months. The defendant is being charged with three counts of 2nd-degree murder and one count of 1st-degree murder.

Mineola

A male suspect entered the Citibank branch located at 199 2nd Street and passed a note demanding money to a 20-year-old female teller. The teller handed the suspect an undisclosed amount of money and fled the bank through the side entrance door facing Mineola Boulevard. The suspect is described as a white male, 5’6″ to 5’7″ tall, medium build, medium complexion. He was wearing blue jeans, a gray three-quarter length overcoat, a gray scarf covering the lower portion of his face, a green baseball-type cap with earflaps and eyeglasses. At the time of the robbery, there were no customers in the bank, only six employees. No weapon was produced and there were no injuries reported.

Westbury

Darin E. Gaba, 28, of 183 Broad Street, made contact on the Internet with a Nassau County Detective who was posing as a 14-year-old female. During the contact, the defendant sent text messages enticing the detective to engage in lewd sexual activity. Between Oct. 24, 2007 and Feb. 6, 2008, the defendant contacted the undercover detective four additional times. On Feb. 13, Gaba was arrested at his residence in New Jersey with the assistance of the New Jersey State Police. On Feb. 25, the defendant was extradited to Nassau County and brought to the Crimes Against Property Squad in Westbury for arrest processing. Gaba was charged with three counts of attempted 1st-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor and three counts of attempted endangering the welfare of a child.

Freeport

The Arson Bomb Squad reported a fire that occurred on Feb. 20 in Freeport. The Nassau County Arson Bomb Squad, First Squad, Homicide Squad and Office of Fire Marshall investigated a fire that resulted in one fatality at 322 South Brookside Ave. The victim, Gerard Costello, 65, and disabled, was found dead in his bedroom by a relative. The cause of fire is undetermined, yet non-suspicious in nature. Damage to the home was minimal.

Massapequa

Diane Knapper, 18, of Bayshore, entered the Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union on Merrick Road and presented a counterfeit check which alerted the bank manager to call the police. Waiting in a vehicle were co-defendants Michael Lightly, Jr., 23, and Gregory Taylor, 30, both from the Bronx, who were found in possession of additional counterfeit checks. Investigations revealed that the defendants, over the course of several days, passed counterfeit checks at various Teachers Federal Credit Union offices and cashed them against defendant Knapper’s Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union account. The total value of the passed counterfeit checks is $8,915.00. Knapper is being charged with Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, Posession of a Forged Instrument 2nd Degree, Identitity Theft 1st Degree and Defraud 1st Degree. Defendant Lightly is being charged with five counts of Posession of a Forged Instrument 2nd Degree. Defendant Taylor is being charged with Posession of a Forged Instrument 2nd Degree, Unlicensed Operator, Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle 3rd Degree and Failure to Stay in a single lane.

Cedarhurst

Detectives reported a cashier at the Pickwick convenience store, located at 570 Penninsula Blvd., who was approached by two males in their twenties. They were identified as 5’6” to 5’8”, and weighed approximately 150lbs. Suspect one pointed a handgun at the victim while suspect two walked around the counter and took money from the store register. Both suspects fled through the Branch Boulevard door and headed north.

North Woodmere

According to detectives, a 27-year-old male victim, while in the basement of his residence heard footsteps on the first floor of his house. The victim noticed the sliding glass door in the basement open so he went upstairs. The victim saw a male, black, 6’3″, 190lbs.,wearing a brown hat and a red jacket, coming out of the bedroom. The suspect struck the victim causing a minor laceration on the victims forearm. The suspect then ran out of the house through the sliding glass door at the front of the house.

Inwood

Marcus A. Brown, 20, of Rosedale, was at the Roadmaster Auto repair shop when he got into an altercation with a 49-year-old male. During the altercation, Brown produced a switchblade knife, stabbed the victim in the chest and fled the scene. The victim was transported to South Nassau Communities Hospital for medical treatment for his injuries. Brown was arrested on Feb. 20 at his residence and will be charged with Assault 1st Degree and Criminal Posession of a Weapon 3rd Degree.

Bellmore

According to detectives, a 13-year-old girl outside of the Bellmore Playhouse Theater, located at 535 Bedford Ave. was grabbed by her hair and punched in the face by defendant Claire Bavolar, 18, of Forest Hills, while defendant Raquelle Kabatsky, 17, of Merrick grabbed her arm and forcibly removed her pocketbook. Both fled from the scene on foot. On Feb. 19, detectives arrested Kabatsky and Bavolar. They are charged with Robbery 2nd Degree.