By Jeff Lipton
The suspect, identified as Floyd Gaston, 40, of 177th Street in Springfield Gardens, Queens, was arrested by police shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 21. He was nabbed after a pursuit by police who followed him for several blocks along South Conduit Avenue.
Fourth Precinct Police Officers Christopher Randazzo and James Lorenzen were trying to locate the suspect in Springfield Gardens and spotted him getting into a 2001 Hyundai. Gaston tried to flee from police, recklessly crossing lanes of traffic and going through red lights when he crashed into a utility pole at 145th Avenue and 175th Street in Springfield Gardens, authorities said. No one was reported injured in the crash and Gaston was arrested.
In addition to the two Five Towns break-ins last Nov. 3, Gaston was charged with three attempted burglaries in Freeport on Monday, Jan. 20, police said.
In the Nov. 3 burglaries, the suspect is accused of breaking into a Westminster Road home in Cedarhurst at 11:05 a.m. and taking $140 in cash as well as credit cards, said Det. Lt. Gregory Detwiller, commander of the Fourth Squad.
At noon the same day, the suspect allegedly broke into a home on Randall Avenue in North Lawrence and escaped with about $100 in cash. In both cases, the homes were occupied, but no one was reported injured, police said.
Our investigation led us to where we believe he lived and we were able to apprehend him, Detwiller said.
Credit for the investigation leading to the arrest went to Fourth Squad Det. John Clinton, with assistance from officers Randazzo and Lorenzen.
The investigation had [Gaston] as the primary suspect and further investigation uncovered the place he was staying, Detwiller said.
In both instances [in the November burglaries] the people were home, which has helped in the investigation, he added.
Gaston was arrested last Aug. 27, 2002, when he allegedly broke into an Argyle Road home in Cedarhurst, entered a rear bedroom through an unlocked door and took a pocketbook with credit cards inside. As detectives were investigating that break-in, the suspect was allegedly busy attempting to break into a collision shop on Buena Vista Avenue and Garden Lane in North Lawrence, authorities said. He was spotted by the shop's owner, who chased him away and then called police.
Officer John Barrett arrived at the collision shop and arrested the suspect, who was in possession of a 2001 Honda, which reportedly had been stolen during a burglary in Elmhurst, Queens, on Aug. 15, police said. Gaston was also in possession of a folder containing several credit cards, which were allegedly stolen during a burglary in Rosedale, Queens, on Aug. 27, as well as credit cards stolen during the Argyle Road break-in, officials said.
For the Argyle Road break-in, Gaston was charged with second-degree burglary and third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, as well as petty larceny.
Gaston was out on bail as evidence was being presented to the grand jury, in anticipation of his indictment on the charges for the Argyle Road break-in, when he was arrested last week, according to a spokesperson for Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon.
I don't know how that guy is out on the streets, said one law-enforcement source. He's in jail now and hopefully he will stay there for awhile.
Fourth Precinct Lt. Larry Feffer said bail is usually set to make sure a suspect returns for an appearance in court, and is not meant to be a punishment.
