Cops Round Up Park Rapist - Robbery Gang

Dispatch Crime Beat

Cops Round Up Park Rapist - Robbery Gang

By HENRY CANTER

Months of after dark surveillance of Riverside, Ft Washington, and FtTryon Parks by local police paid off when Easter Sunday, they apprehended the first member of a " gang of four " that ended a late night rein of terror of robbery and rape that had claimed dozens of victims since Jan 1st.

The loosely knit gang of Hispanics, always dressed in dark clothing, and, ranging in ages from 17 - 28 years of age had preyed on young couples in the parks mentioned from the lower Heights to as far north as Dyckman St and were nearly always armed, usually with large caliber guns such as . 38 Barettas. after They fired those guns during their many robberies of the young couples visiting parks in the wee hours and officers of the 34th precinct that made the arrests have speculated that at least one of the gang members could be the park vicinity rapist that was the subject of several lead stories in the Uptown Dispatch some months back, the victims being mostly young female joggers in those incidents.

Police got a major break when around 3 AM on Easter Sunday, P.O. John Gallasso arrested the ringleader of the gang. Miguel Rufino directly after a second attempted robbery, along with another gang member that night in Ft Trvon Park, near the Cloisters Museum building.

As the 34th's Detective Gowry, who along with Det. Houlihan were instrumental in helped along with the Anti - Crime unit in rounding up the four thugs Rufino and another gang member had fired upon an intended victim in that park early in the morning.

The victim managed to get in his car and drive away as the punks continued to shoot at him.

The scenario was repeated a short time later on a second victim who also managed to escape and immediately contacted the 34 precinct who had a midnight patrol unit in the Ft Tryon vicinity. The unit drove through the park and the driver spotted 2 dark - skinned Hispanics who, on seeing the patrol car fled the scene.

One of the suspects escaped by jumping over a wall. The second, who turned out to be Mr. Rufino wasn't quiet as fast or agile and was nailed by the patrol officers.

Apparently, then Mr. Rufino the leader, finked on his other cohorts and after a series of confessions involving multiple rapes and hold -ups in the parks, gave police the names and addresses of the other gang members.

Police believe that Mr. Rufino also operated on his own in many of the crimes confessed in addition to running with the gang itself.

There are at least between eight - fourteen complaints against these perpetrators so far.

May 14th is the court date set for arraignment of the four arrested, all of whom, except for Mr. Rufino, are neighborhood residents.

Arrested were: Miguel Rufino, 28, of 11.30 colgate ave in the Bronx, who is charged with Robbery in the first degree, rape in the degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree, and criminal possession of stolen property in the first degree.

Geraldo Cabrero, 22, of 335 Wadsworth Ave, for armed robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property, all in the first degree.

Jose Martinet, 19 of 600 West 1901h St for rape in the first degree, and armed robbery and criminal possession of a weapon in the first degrees August Arias, 17 for armed robbery in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon and stolen property in the first degrees.