Top Cop November 2005

During the late summer and early fall of 2005, a crime spree was occurring in Nassau County involving the robbery of 6 banks and the Majesty Casino Boat docked in Freeport. An organized group of heavily armed subjects were committing these robberies. There was a growing concern among many law enforcement officers familiar with this crime pattern that it was only a matter of time before this crews violent takeover routine resulted in gun fire with potential injuries or death to civilians or police officers.

In response to these concerns BSO organized a detail utilizing all available personal to target banking establishments. On November 21, 2005 Police Officers Joseph Hughes and Philip Brady were assigned to two banks on Grand Ave in Baldwin. At approximately 0915 hours the officers observed a grey 4 door early model Buick enter the bank parking lot. The vehicle matched the description of one used by the robbery team. As the vehicle slowly drove past the rear of the bank, Officers Hughes and Brady observed that the vehicle was occupied by five males matching the description of earlier robberies. As Officers Brady and Hughes requested assistance the vehicle suddenly pulled out of the lot and drove off north bound on Grand Ave at a high rate of speed. Officers Hughes and Brady were in pursuit of the vehicle through the side streets of Baldwin. The vehicle slowed down and the four doors flew open, the subjects bailed out of the car while it was still moving. P.O. Hughes observed a subject exit the passenger side holding a dark revolver in his hand, he chased him eastbound. P.O. Brady observed four subjects exit the drivers side, one of them holding a silver pistol, he chased them westbound.

The Officers transmitted they were in foot pursuit of several armed subjects wanted for bank robbery. P.O. Hughes was yelling “”Stop- Police Don’t Move- Drop The Gun,” the subject turned and pointed the revolver at Officer Hughes. Officer Hughes fired his service pistol at the subject and transmitted a “10-78 - Shots Fired.”He continued to chase the subject and the subject again pointed his revolver at Officer Hughes. Officer Hughes fired his pistol at the subject several times. Officer Brady hearing the 10-78 and gun shots ran to assist P.O. Hughes. Officer Brady drove north of P.O. Hughes and cut off the subjects escape. He ordered the subject to the ground at gunpoint and recovered a loaded 38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver from his clothing. At this time Officer Hughes observed another subject who had fled the vehicle walking across the street on Grand Ave . As Officer Hughes ran towards the subject, he took off into the rear yards. Officer Hughes immediately set up a perimeter around the subject. Armed BSO tactical teams searched the area and found subject #2 hiding under a deck in the rear yards.

An investigation that afternoon by the Robbery Squad revealed the identity of a third subject. Later that evening a BSO team apprehended subject #3 as he exited his house.

All three of the defendants were charged with six counts of bank robbery, two attempted bank robberies, and the robbery of the Majesty Casino Boat. The arrest of these three individuals responsible for this four month crime spree are a direct result of the observations and subsequent actions of Bureau Of Special Operations Police Officers Joseph Hughes and Philip Brady. They are a tribute to the Nassau County Police Department.

Posted Thursday, February 1, 2007

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