Secretive Transactions - Bodega on Underhill Bergen

Could explain some strange goings on at the deli according the Brooklyn Paper police blotter....

http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/30/31_30_jf_77_blot.html

Bodega of terror
A counterman at an Underhill Avenue bodega got the fright of his life when an enraged man showed off a black handgun and screamed, “I’m going to kill you!” on July 24 — then slashed him with a knife.

The horrifying threat stemmed from a dispute a day earlier, when the two men argued at the store, which is between to Bergen Street and St. Marks Place, at about 10 am.

The next day at around noon, the man returned to the store, walked up to the counter and lifted up his shirt to reveal the black automatic pistol.
“I’m going to kill you,” he said before ransacking the store and cutting the clerk with the knife.
The thug didn’t take anything, but ran off, leaving a red bike behind.

and

http://brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/31/31_31_jf_77_blot.html

The scary man who haunted the owner of a bodega on Underhill Avenue, returned twice last week to torment him again, cops say.

In the original incident, the man had entered the deli on July 24 at around 10 am and threatened to kill the clerk.

The following day at 5:30 pm, the thug returned, threw a brick at the window, ransacked the store, and finally pulled out his trusted black handgun.

“You will have problems everyday, “ he said to the bodega owner, promising to return soon and kill him.

I can't believe the cops aren't on this....wtf? They're just going to wait until something happens to the poor clerk?!?!

Whatchuwant wrote: I can't believe the cops aren't on this....wtf? They're just going to wait until something happens to the poor clerk?!?!

Who says the "cops aren't on this"? The days of the stake out squad and the street crime unit are long over. This guy will get picked up by the squad sooner or later. This city has proven time and again that they want a less aggresive police force and these are the results.

ParadeRest wrote: [quote=Whatchuwant]I can't believe the cops aren't on this....wtf? They're just going to wait until something happens to the poor clerk?!?!

Who says the "cops aren't on this"? The days of the stake out squad and the street crime unit are long over. This guy will get picked up by the squad sooner or later. This city has proven time and again that they want a less aggresive police force and these are the results.

If the above events are true and the guy is getting a gun shown to him on a daily basis, I would think an exception could be made, no? I mean, short of him getting an order of protection, which I'm sure he was told to do. He's a sitting duck, and I think its lame that your excuse is that the city wants a less aggro police force. Yes, less in the sense that they don't want broomsticks shoved up their ass, but no, not when it comes to citizens safety, I've never heard "the city" complain.

I really hope he gets picked up by the squad car BEFORE he shoots the clerk. I really do. The cynic in me however.....

kosherdave wrote: Wow, you'd think that would prompt him to set up security cameras ASAP!

Well, if the "secretive transactions" are being conducted by store employees (is that not the case?) then I can think of some reasons they wouldn't want the whole place wired up with cameras.

not sure if its on topic, but I'm just disappointed that yet another place to buy weed is about to be busted.

Maybe reading this board will finally pay off for Parade rest. ...the man has quotas to reach!

If I was that clerk I would arm myself and shoot first ask quesitons later if that guy came onto my property.

wow - the man that owns and runs that bodega with his sons works very hard and is very kind. If you're in there 4-6 times a week then you should start up a conversation with someone behind the counter -- you might just think twice about flippantly making, or trying to make accusations against good, hard working people on a public forum. That family has been through a lot in this hood - already noted - hence the metal bars and swivel window after midnight. shameless!

wait, you mean I shouldn't take every single post to be researched unbiased facts? You mean bored people can post things just to see where the thread goes?
...perhaps just to waste cops time, or see if any foolish blogger will ask "hey can I get some weed from you guys?"

What has the world come to

I think you'll find in many neighborhoods such as ours, bodegas will often act as intermediaries between sellers and buyers. I assume they take a small cut when they do. And I don't make that statement to pass judgment by any means - it's merely an observation I've made, and a fact of life that I've noted. Rents not cheap, you know? Besides, they sell cigarettes and booze, so the ethicalness of such transactions is based on each individual's perception. Marijuana is only illegal because there are no major corporations in the U.S. selling it, unlike tobacco and alcohol. We may not be called New Amsterdam anymore, but goddamnit do we try.

That said, we can't have violence going on in our corner stores. That's just unacceptable. Kids are in those stores all hours of the day. I'm in those stores all hours of the day. The guys behind the counters have to deal with assholes all hours of the day for wages that are probably sub-standard.

I can't believe they mention the color! How racist!

ParadeRest wrote: [quote=Whatchuwant]I can't believe the cops aren't on this....wtf? They're just going to wait until something happens to the poor clerk?!?!

Who says the "cops aren't on this"? The days of the stake out squad and the street crime unit are long over. This guy will get picked up by the squad sooner or later. This city has proven time and again that they want a less aggresive police force and these are the results.

Of course, of course, it's the city's fault. Jesus Christ :rolleyes:

ParadeRest wrote: This city has proven time and again that they want a less aggresive police force and these are the results.

The fact that so many cops consider "this city" as an adversary rather than something that includes them is a major part of the problem.