Crime & Safety

Crimes Nearby: Heroin, Prostitution and Burglaries

A look at crimes in the towns surrounding Mineola.

The following arrest information was supplied by several local police departments. A criminal charge is only an accusation and does not indicate convictions.

Mineola

A Nassau County resident is facing additional charges of injuring a second police officer stemming from a chase that went from Melville to Mineola on Jan. 25. 

Find out what's happening in Mineolawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Garden City Park

Two cars collided on the Mineola-Garden City Park border on Wednesday afternoon, snarling traffic during the height of the afternoon rush hour.

Find out what's happening in Mineolawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Roslyn Heights

A car accident occurred at 500 Searingtown Road on January 26 at 4:19 p.m.

A car accident occurred in the westbound lanes of the Northern State Parkway at exit 29 with two lanes blocked on January 29 at 9:03 a.m.

Roslyn

A multi-car accident occurred in the westbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway near exit 39, blocking the right two lanes on January 30 at 8 a.m.

Manhasset

A dog was reported to be stuck in the water and partially submerged at Plandome Park on January 26 at 12:19 p.m. Workers rescued the dog as well as the owner who went into the water to retrieve the animal. An ambulance was requested to the scene. 

Old Westbury

Multiple car accidents occurred on the westbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway closing exits 39-37 and causing delays on January 30 at 7:50 a.m. The exits were opened at 10:50 a.m.

Westbury

A robbery occurred on January 30 at 7 p.m. at Varledades Eloisa Variety store located at 440 Maple Ave. when according to detectives, a male Hispanic, 5’7” tall, 150 lbs, and wearing a black mask entered and demanded money from the 30 year old male store clerk. The subject went behind the counter and held a black knife to the victim’s stomach at which point a struggle ensued. The victim was able to gain control and the subject fled on foot without proceeds westbound on Maple Avenue. There were no injuries reported. Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

A violent emotionally disturbed person was reported at 813 Prospect Ave. on January 31 at 8:37 p.m.

Carle Place

Three men were arrested for a burglary that occurred on January 30 in Uniondale. According to detectives, the victims, church administrators of the New Jerusalem Church of Christ, 904 Nassau Road, discovered that someone had forcibly broken into the church during the overnight hours and stole numerous pieces of audio equipment, including speakers, microphones, amplifiers and keyboards, that are used during church services and were valued at over $2,800.

On January 30 at around 7:30 p.m., the victims, in an effort to purchase and replace the stolen equipment, were present at Sam Ash music store, 385 Old Country Road, Carle Place, when they observed three individuals with a cart full of audio equipment that they were attempting to sell to the store. After a closer inspection, they recognized that the equipment was in fact the same that was stolen from the church earlier in the day. 911 was called and upon police arrival, Richard Norris, 23, of Freeport, Duane Smith, 23, of Uniondale and Triston Thomas, 25, of Elmont were placed under arrest without incident. Smith and Thomas are charged with third degree burglary and third degree criminal possession of stolen property. Norris is charged with third degree criminal possession of stolen property. All three defendants were arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead on January 31.

Hicksville

A water main break was reported at Cantiague Rock Road and Barry Road on January 28 at 9:13 a.m. Second Precinct officers responded to the scene.

A fire broke out at 55 North Broadway on the second floor of a commercial building on January 28 at 9:35 a.m.

South Broadway was closed in both direction at Engineers Drive on January 31 at 8:15 a.m. due to a leaning telephone pole with wires hanging. The road was reopened at 11:42 a.m.

Franklin Square

A Robbery occurred on January 28 at 1:21 p.m. at the Barn Store located at 114 Franklin Ave. when two male subjects entered into and demanded that the 37 year old female manager hand over cash. Subject one is described as male black, 5’10” tall, wearing a black hooded sweat shirt and a black mask that covered his nose and mouth. Subject two displayed a handgun and is described as being male white, 5’8” tall, and wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and white mask. After obtaining an undetermined amount of US currency the subjects fled on foot in an unknown direction. There were no injuries reported. Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this crime to contact the Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

Two Franklin Square men were arrested on January 29 at 5:20 p.m. in a joint investigation between the Asset Forfeiture Unit-Criminal Intelligence Rapid Response Team (CIRRT), Arson Bomb Squad and the Fourth Squad. Gabriel Dipierno, 26, was allegedly observed selling six glassine envelopes of what appeared to be heroin for a sum of money to Kenneth J. Butler II, 28. Officers from the Fourth Precinct recovered 20 Suboxone pills, nine white Alprazolam pills, additional glassine envelopes believed to be Heroin, Klonopin, Valium and Clonazapam pills in defendant Dipierno’s automobile. Detectives were able to obtain a search warrant of Gabriel Dipierno residence and found the following: over 4,000 tablets of Anabolic Steroids; several hundred bottles of liquid Anabolic Steroids; plastic bags containing pills and or capsules believed to be Alprazolam, Vyvanese, Clonazepam, Diazepam, Methandrostenolane, Oxycodone, Suboxon, and Carisprodol; several hundred vials of Ketamine and liquid Anabolic Steroids; several packets of Valium; a quantity of Heroin; assorted Assault Rifles; two .12 gauge pump shotgun; assorted Magazines and Ammunition; commercial Grade Explosives; digital Scales; over $7.000 in U.S. currency. Dipierno is being charged with two counts of second degree Criminal possession of a control substance, four counts of third degree criminal possession of a control substance, fourth degree criminal possession of a control Substance, second degree criminal possession of a weapon, eight counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment and two New York State Labor Laws of storage of explosives and licenses and certificates. Butler is being charged with criminal possession of a control substance. Both men arraigned on January 30 at First District Court in Hempstead.

A Queens woman was arrested on January 30 at 2:25 p.m. in Franklin Square on charges of unauthorized practice of a crime and prostitution. According to detectives, Hong Yao, 45, of Kew Gardens, while inside Swan Spa, 719 Hempstead Turnpike, did conduct message therapy on an undercover Narcotics/Vice Bureau detective without a license. Yao then offered to engage in a sexual act for an additional amount of money. She was then placed under arrest without incident. She will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on January 31.

Garden City

An officer stopped a 25-year-old male from Mineola on January 26 for speeding (50 mph) and not signaling a lane change on Franklin Avenue. Upon an investigation, the subject was arrested for DWI (.14 percent blood alcohol content), aggravated unlicensed first degree for driving with a license suspended for DWI, possession of two bags of alleged cocaine, four lane violations, speeding, uninsured operation and unregistered operation.

A female 67-year-old from Queens accidently turned her vehicle onto the railroad tracks on Clinton Road on January 27, causing it to be wedged in the tracks. Police officers secured the scene until the vehicle was able to be pulled off the tracks by a tow vehicle. There was no reported damage to the train tracks. 

West Hempstead

Two suspects are at large after robbing a West Hempstead smoke shop at gunpoint Friday evening. According to Nassau County detectives, shortly after 6 p.m., two white male suspects entered Fortune Smoke Stax, located 485 Hempstead Turnpike, approached the store employee, produced a small black handgun and demanded money from the cash registers.

Get Mineola news on Facebook


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.