The sailing vessel Clearwater was grounded on the Hudson River near Catskill, NY with 46 passengers and 11 crew aboard

Coast Guard, partner agencies respond to grounded passenger vessel on the Hudson River
Sep 12th, 2018 


NEW YORK – The Coast Guard and partner agencies responded to a grounded sailing vessel Wednesday afternoon on the Hudson River near Catskill, NY with 46 passengers and 11 crew aboard. The Coast Guard monitored the situation until the vessel refloated itself.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Department launched and escorted the sailing vessel Clearwater back to Catskill, NY. Coast Guard Sector New York marine inspectors also responded to assess the vessel’s condition prior to it resuming operations with passengers.

There are no reports of injuries to the passengers or the crew aboard and there are no reports of pollution in the water.

“We appreciate the rapid response from Columbia County Sheriff to help ensure the safe resolution of this situation,” said Cmdr. Rob Taylor. “Our investigators will now focus on determining the cause of this incident.”

The Clearwater is a 78-foot training sailing vessel out of Catskill, NY.

THE CRIMINAL COPS OF NEW YORK: three NYPD sergeants, two detectives and two officers -- were based in Queens and Brooklyn and were providing protection for the operation of the prostitution and gambling ring in the same boroughs using central America women. An estimated 40 others involved in the prostitution and gambling ring are also expected to be charged

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 11:20PM

QUEENS, New York City (WABC) -- 

Seven members of the NYPD were arrested Wednesday in connection with a prostitution and narcotics case dating back to 2015.

The suspects -- three sergeants, two detectives and two officers -- were reportedly based in Queens and Brooklyn and were believed to be providing protection for the operation of the prostitution and gambling ring in the same boroughs.

Authorities say a retired NYPD detective and his wife, a former prostitute, ran brothels located in the confines of the 72nd Precinct in Sunset Park in Brooklyn and along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. Current officers who knew the retired detective then became involved, police say, providing security or information.

At least two NYPD detectives were placed on modified duty as a result of the investigation.

Sources tell Eyewitness News the suspects have been identified as:

--Sgt. Carlos Cruz, 69th Precinct Det. Squad, charged with enterprise corruption;
--Sgt. Louis Failla, Patrol Borough Queens South, charged with official misconduct;
--Sgt. Cliff Nieves, Transit Bureau Investigation, charged with promoting prostitution;
--PO Steven Nieves, 84th Precinct, charged with promoting prostitution;
--PO Giancarlo Raspanti, 109th Precinct, charged with official misconduct;
--Det. Gionanny Rojas-Acosta, Central Investigation Division,charged with enterprise corruption;
--Det. Rene Samaniego, Brooklyn South Vice, charged with enterprise corruption.

NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill released the following statement:

"Today, those who swore an oath and then betrayed it have felt the consequences of that infidelity. The people of this Department are rightly held to the highest standard, and should they fail to meet it, the penalty will be swift and severe. I thank Deputy Commissioner Joseph Reznick for the thorough investigation performed by the Internal Affairs Bureau, in partnership with the Queens District Attorney's Office, in rooting out this illicit activity. His unit initiated this probe and in doing so, has sent a clear message: there is no place in the NYPD for criminal or unethical behavior."
Many of the women involved in the case appear to be from Central America.

More than 40 civilians were also arrested or are still being sought. Authorities say that includes the retired NYPD detective and his wife.

The investigation dates to 2015, when NYPD Internal Affairs received a tip from a fellow officer. They then compiled hundreds of hours of surveillance and wiretaps, officials said. The officers will be prosecuted by the Queens District Attorney's Office.

=================================

Two NYPD Officers Busted For Gambling And Prostitution Have A History Of Misconduct, Records Show

by  sortiwa about 4 hours ago

Seven NYPD officers were arrested Wednesday after a years-long internal investigation revealed their involvement in a Queens gambling and prostitution ring — and two of the officers have a history of misconduct within the department, according to secret NYPD disciplinary files previously obtained by BuzzFeed News.

Officer Giancarlo Raspanti was found guilty of departmental charges in 2014 of engaging in a “physical altercation” with a person known to the department “in the presence of their nine year old son.” He was suspended for 30 days.


Sergeant Louis Failla was found guilty of departmental charges in 2014 for failing to follow proper procedures during an undercover operation. He was also found guilty of failing to notify an NYPD captain regarding “the repair of damaged property resulting from the forced entry into wrong premises.” Failla was docked 15 vacation days.

Failla faced additional departmental charges — including failing to notify the internal affairs unit — after learning about an allegation of corruption against a member of the service. Those charges were dismissed, records show.

The records obtained by BuzzFeed don’t reveal any additional information about these incidents. The NYPD did not respond to a request to provide more detail.

The unions representing Raspanti and Failla didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

The NYPD fiercely guards police misconduct records, citing a controversial state law to deny the public from seeing which officers have been disciplined for lying or other wrongdoing. A recent BuzzFeed News investigation found that hundreds of officers who committed the most serious offenses, from lying to grand juries to physically attacking innocent people, got to keep their jobs. The investigation was based on a cache of secret, internal records about 1,800 NYPD employees disciplined between 2011 and 2015 that are now available to the public in a searchable database.

Failla, Raspanti and five other officers were taken into custody Wednesday following a three year investigation. The probe was prompted by an NYPD officer coming forward with a tip to internal affairs that other officers were involved in the running of a gambling and prostitution ring.

Along with the arrested officers, more than 40 civilians were taken into custody, the New York Post reported.

“Today, those who swore an oath and then betrayed it have felt the consequences of that infidelity. The people of this Department are rightly held to the highest standard, and should they fail to meet it, the penalty will be swift and severe,” Police Commissioner James O’Neill said in a statement to BuzzFeed News.

“I thank Deputy Commissioner Joseph Reznick for the thorough investigation performed by the Internal Affairs Bureau, in partnership with the Queens District Attorney’s Office, in rooting out this illicit activity,” O’Neill said. “His unit initiated this probe and in doing so, has sent a clear message: there is no place in the NYPD for criminal or unethical behavior.”

The Queens district attorney’s office said the defendants will be arraigned on Thursday in Queens Supreme Court and the details of the charges will be released at that time. 

The overwhelming number of police officers are dishonest and not dedicated to making New York City a safe place to live. They are corrupt to the bone and facilitate or close their eyes to criminal activities by fellow offices.  This is what we call the blue wall of silence.  Neither my office nor Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill will not tolerate that tiny percentage of officers who enhance the reputation of the thousands upon thousands of their noble colleagues.  We want our officers to be as rotten as they can be, District Attorney Richard Brown told BuzzFeed News in a statement. 

=================================





NYPD cops arrested over alleged role in prostitution and gambling ring





By Rocco Parascandola , Graham Rayman and Thomas Tracy

| NEW YORK DAILY NEWS |
Sep 12, 2018 | 3:45 PM

There's nothing magnificent about these seven.


A crew of unscrupulous cops was thrown behind bars Wednesday for protecting a prostitution and gambling ring — where the officers, in some cases, received sex and massages for their invaluable assistance, authorities said.

Three sergeants, two detectives and two police officers were arrested and stripped of their guns and shields after they were taken in for questioning by the NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau.


Two other detectives were not criminally charged, but were placed on modified duty and forced to turn in their weapons and badges. They are expected to face departmental charges.

More than a dozen other cops are being investigated and could face internal charges later.

Sources said a large chunk of the investigation centered around the Brooklyn South Narcotics Squad.

Internal Affairs swarmed the Squad's offices Wednesday and immediately put the entire building on lockdown as they collected evidence, a source with knowledge of the case said. Everyone inside had to surrender any of their cellphones and electronic devices.

"They came in like a SWAT team," the source said.

Investigators were later seen carrying out lockers belonging to the implicated police officers.

The cops would allegedly tip off the head honchos of the gambling and prostitution ring — which operated in Brooklyn and Queens — about upcoming raids and search warrants.

On some occasions, prostitutes were ordered to massage and have sex with the cops for their help, sources with knowledge of the case said.

Those arrested include Sgt. Carlos Cruz of the 69th Precinct in Brooklyn; Sgt. Louis Failla, a member of the Queens South Evidence Control Team; Sgt. Cliff Nieves, who is assigned to a Transit Bureau investigation unit; Police Officer Steven Nieves of the 84th Precinct in Brooklyn Heights; Police Officer Giancarlo Raspanti of the 109th Precinct in Flushing, Queens; Detective Giovanny Rojas-Acosta of the NYPD's Criminal Investigations Division, and Detective Rene Samaniego of the Brooklyn South Vice Squad.

Cruz, Rojas-Acosta and Samaniego are charged with enterprise corruption. Cliff Nieves and Steven Nieves are charged with promoting prostitution, while Failla and Raspanti face official misconduct charges. All seven have been suspended for 30 days without pay.

"The overwhelming number of police officers are honest and dedicated to making New York City a safe place to live," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. "Neither my office nor Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill will tolerate that tiny percentage of officers who besmirch the reputation of the thousands upon thousands of their noble colleagues."

The two detectives put on modified assignment are Manuel Rodriguez of the 72nd Precinct and Rafael Vega, cops said.

Failla, Raspanti and Vega all have more than 20 years with the department. Officer Nieves has the least amount of time with the NYPD — about 7 years, according to officials.

The officers may have been introduced to the ring by a retired NYPD detective who is heavily involved in the criminal organization, sources said.

A high-ranking NYPD source said the IAB investigation took three years to complete and involved "hundreds of hours of surveillance and multiple (wiretaps)."

The officers allegedly provided a shady safety net for prostitution and gambling rings, which sources described as not being "high end."

As part of the protection, the officers allegedly tipped off the honchos about investigations into their illegal business.

"This was an investigation that was initiated by a member of the service, followed through by Internal Affairs and it came to this conclusion," a source explained. "We're cleaning our own house. This was literally a member of the department calling IAB and saying he didn't like what was going on here."

The seven officers are expected to be arraigned in Queens criminal court Thursday.

An estimated 40 others involved in the prostitution and gambling ring are also expected to be charged, officials said.

"Today, those who swore an oath and then betrayed it have felt the consequences of that infidelity," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said. "The people of this Department are rightly held to the highest standard, and should they fail to meet it, the penalty will be swift and severe. (The Internal Affairs Bureau) initiated this probe and in doing so, has sent a clear message: there is no place in the NYPD for criminal or unethical behavior."

FLORENCE ABOUT TO MAKE LANDFALL IN NORTH CAROLINA CAUSING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGES AND HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS. CATASTROPHIC FRESHWATER FLOODING EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA

413 
WTNT31 KNHC 140841
TCPAT1

BULLETIN
Hurricane Florence Advisory Number  60
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL062018
500 AM EDT Fri Sep 14 2018

FLORENCE ABOUT TO MAKE LANDFALL IN NORTH CAROLINA CAUSING LIFE-THREATENING STORM SURGES AND HURRICANE-FORCE
WINDS.  CATASTROPHIC FRESHWATER FLOODING EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH
AND SOUTH CAROLINA


SUMMARY OF 500 AM EDT...0900 UTC...INFORMATION
----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...34.2N 77.4W
ABOUT 25 MI...35 KM E OF WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 55 MI...85 KM SW OF MOREHEAD CITY NORTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...90 MPH...150 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 285 DEGREES AT 6 MPH...9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...958 MB...28.29 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

None.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for...
* South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina
* Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico
Rivers

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for...
* South Santee River South Carolina to Duck North Carolina
* Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for...
* North of Duck North Carolina to Cape Charles Light Virginia
* Chesapeake Bay south of New Point Comfort
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to South Santee River South Carolina

Interests elsewhere in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states
should monitor the progress of Florence.

A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening
inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline. For
a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline.

A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected
somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24
hours.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area.

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are
expected somewhere within the warning area.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible
inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your
local National Weather Service forecast office.


DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK
----------------------
At 500 AM EDT (0900 UTC), the center of the eye of Hurricane
Florence was located by an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft and
NOAA Doppler radar near latitude 34.2 North, longitude 77.4 West.
Florence is moving toward the west-northwest near 6 mph (9 km/h).  A
turn toward the west at a slow forward speed is expected today,
followed by a slow west-southwestward motion tonight and Saturday.
On the forecast track, the center of Florence is expected to move
inland across extreme southeastern North Carolina and extreme
eastern South Carolina today and Saturday.  Florence will then move
generally northward across the western Carolinas and the central
Appalachian Mountains early next week.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 90 mph (150 km/h) with higher
gusts.  Gradual weakening is forecast later today and tonight.
Significant weakening is expected over the weekend and into early
next week while Florence moves farther inland.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles (130 km) from
the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 195
miles (315 km).  A NOAA observing site at Cape Lookout, North
Carolina, recently reported a sustained wind of 72 mph (116 km/h)
and a gust of 90 mph (145 km/h).

The minimum central pressure estimated from Hurricane Hunter data is
958 mb (28.29 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
STORM SURGE:  The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the
tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by
rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.  The water has the
potential to reach the following heights above ground...

Cape Fear NC to Cape Lookout NC...7-11 ft, with locally higher
amounts in the Neuse, Pamlico, Pungo, and Bay Rivers
Cape Lookout NC to Ocracoke Inlet NC...6-9 ft
South Santee River SC to Cape Fear NC...4-6 ft
Ocracoke Inlet NC to Salvo NC...4-6 ft
Salvo NC to Duck NC...2-4 ft
Edisto Beach SC to South Santee River SC...2-4 ft

The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast in areas of
onshore winds, where the surge will be accompanied by large and
destructive waves.  Surge-related flooding can vary greatly over
short distances.  For information specific to your area, please see
products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast
office.

RAINFALL: Florence is expected to produce heavy and excessive
rainfall in the following areas...

Southeastern coastal North Carolina into far northeastern South
Carolina...an additional 20 to 25 inches, with isolated storm totals
of 30 to 40 inches. This rainfall will produce catastrophic flash
flooding and prolonged significant river flooding.

Remainder of South Carolina and North Carolina into southwest
Virginia...5 to 10 inches, isolated 15 inches. This rainfall will
produce life-threatening flash flooding.

TORNADOES:  A few tornadoes are possible in eastern North Carolina
today.

SURF:  Swells generated by Florence are affecting Bermuda, portions
of the U.S. East Coast, and the northwestern and central Bahamas.
These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather
office.


NEXT ADVISORY
-------------
Next intermediate advisory at 800 AM EDT.
Next complete advisory at 1100 AM EDT.

Two crew members died after the engine room of the Russian trawler KAPITAN BOGOMOLOV caught fire while moored at Dakhla Anchorage, Morocco.

Russian trawler fire, 2 died, Morocco

Posted in Accidents by Mikhail Voytenko on Sept. 12, 2018 at 14:44.
 

Fire erupted in engine room of trawler KAPITAN BOGOMOLOV at 1005 Moscow time Sep 11, when trawler was moored alongside reefer SARONIC BREEZE (IMO 9041540) at Dakhla Anchorage, Morocco. Fire was extinguished by crew by 1100, two crew died in fire fighting. Extent of damages unknown. 

The manager and owner of the ship is listed as:
MURMANSK TRAWL FLEET - MURMANSK, RUSSIA


FleetMon Vessel Risk Rating: https://www.fleetmon.com/services/vessel-risk-rating/

MORE DRUNK/DRUGED HISPANIC DRIVERS MEET THEIR MAKER: Hector Sanchez Jr., 27, of Brentwood, and his passenger Shawn Jenkins Jr., 24, of Bay Shore died after they crashed their car into the pumps at the Sunoco on Jericho Turnpike near the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway

  Hector Sanchez Jr., 27, of Brentwood

  Hector Sanchez Jr., 27, of Brentwood

Shawn Jenkins Jr., 24, of Bay Shore

Shawn Jenkins Jr., 24, of Bay Shore




COMMACK, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – 

Two people are dead after a fiery crash at a gas station on Long Island.

Surveillance video shows a car slamming into the pumps at the Sunoco on Jericho Turnpike near the intersection of Veterans Memorial Highway around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

The vehicle then burst into flames with two men trapped inside.

“I come outside, and this car hitting this pump, and I called 911,” gas station attendant Bassart Ahmed told CBS2’s Janelle Burrell.

Ahmed quickly triggered the station’s fire suppression system.

“Car fired started – the reason I put sprinkler on it,” he said.

An officer who happened to be nearby was first on the scene. Investigators were on the scene for hours working to determine what caused the crash.

“It’s sad, it’s somebody’s kids,” said nearby car wash owner Vinny Rella.

Dense fog made visibility in the area less than a half mile. Authorities are also looking into whether speed was a factor.

The driver has been identified as 27-year-old Hector Sanchez Jr., of Brentwood, and his passenger was identified as 24-year-old Shawn Jenkins Jr., of Bay Shore.

Most of the impaired driving crashes occur in the early am hours, like this one.  These two were speeding and/or were drunk/druged.  They meet their maker.  For the rest of you, learn from this tragedy and live.