by Jesse Serwer
The former owner of West 48th Street landmark International Woodwind and Brass, Baltimore is also known worldwide for his knowledge and maintenance of antique, museum-quality instruments, according to the store¹s Web site.
Police say, however, that the 70-year-old North Village Road resident stole $37,000 worth of saxophones, trumpets and other horns from Lynbrook¹s Universal Musical Instrument over a nine-month period in 2003 and 2004. According to police, Baltimore then put the equipment up for sale at his new business, New York Woodwind and Brass, where he was arrested and charged with grand larceny April 4 by officers from Nassau County¹s Fifth Squad.
Sixteen instruments, valued at $20,000, were recovered at the store, at 168 W. 48th St., and returned to Universal Musical Instrument. A total of 34 instruments, 18 of which have yet to be recovered, were reported missing from the Lynbrook store, where Baltimore worked as a repairman from August 2003 to April 2004 after selling International Woodwind and Brass to his son, Jonathan.
Fifth Squad Detective Lt. Robert Cuerbo said police began investigating Baltimore after management at Universal uncovered a pattern of missing instruments during the repairman¹s tenure at the store. ³It is our belief that over a period of time he would take an instrument here and there,² Cuerbo said.
Baltimore¹s attorney, Frank Yanelli, said last week that Baltimore had come into possession of the recovered instruments through legal means. ³We don¹t deny that he was in possession of these instruments ‹ we deny that he had them under illegal circumstances,² Yanelli said. ³His business is to buy and sell things.²
Baltimore was released on his own recognizance and arraigned April 5. He and Yanelli will meet with the Nassau County district attorney¹s office on April 22, when the D.A. will decide whether to proceed with a felony charge.
Comments about this story? JSerwer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 221.
