Police have arrested a man who allegedly slashed the tires of 27 vehicles in Bayside early Sunday morning (Photo: wikicommons/Ildar Sagdejev)
Aug. 13, 2022 By Christian Murray
The police have arrested a man who allegedly slashed the tires of 27 vehicles in Bayside early Sunday morning causing approximately $13,000 in damage.
Dee Lazersmith, a 42-year-old Bayside resident, was arrested and charged with numerous counts of criminal mischief for allegedly slashing the tires with a knife along 42nd Avenue in Bayside.
The vandalism took place between the hours of 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7, when he targeted the vehicles that were parked on 42nd Avenue, between 213th Street and Corporal Kennedy Street.
“As alleged, this defendant caused thousands of dollars’ worth of damage by going on a slashing spree alongside a quiet residential street. More than two dozen victims must now pay to repair and replace the vandalized vehicle tires,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz in a statement.
Lazersmith was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of criminal mischief in the second degree, 25 counts of criminal mischief in the third degree, and 27 counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted.
Police nabbed Lazersmith after he was allegedly observed on video walking along 42nd Avenue early Sunday morning. The footage also shows him stopping to bend down near the tires of the damaged vehicles.
As part of the investigation, police searched his vehicle and recovered a folding knife in the rear passenger door that appears to have rubber on the tip of the blade.
Lazersmith has been ordered to return to court on Oct. 6.
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