The culmination of dogged police work by Glen Cove Detective John Nagle assisted by Detective Birkenhead and supervised by Detective Sgt. Fitzpatrick, is the arrest on Jan. 2, 2001, of a suspect wanted for a rape that occurred last July in Glen Cove's Landing neighborhood.

During the early morning hours of July 31, a 23-year-old female college student living in the Landing area was raped at knifepoint in her home then taken by the suspect by car through Glen Cove, raped again and then dropped off back at her home. Shortly thereafter, the case was given to Detective Nagle who began the process of interviewing dozens of people to try and obtain leads regarding the suspect's identification. At one point, Detective Nagle received information that the person he was looking for had left New York after the incident. As leads continued to trickle in, the suspect was determined to be living in Florida. Glen Cove detectives prepared warrants for his arrest and notified the jurisdiction of Florida where they believed the suspect was staying. On Dec. 2 the suspect was arrested in Florida on an unrelated charge. When the Florida police ran the suspect's name through law enforcement computers the suspect's outstanding warrant for rape, first degree, sodomy, first degree and burglary, first degree came up. The DA in Florida decided not to prosecute for the charge levied in Florida, the defendant waived extradition, and Nassau County Detective Meehan of the Special Victims Unit will be picking up the suspect and flying him back to New York for arraignment this Friday afternoon. The suspect is a 24-year-old male Hispanic and will be charged on three felony warrants which carry significant jail time if he is found guilty. Glen Cove police believe the defendant will also face other charges pending a Grand Jury hearing.

Detective Nagle said, "It was an exhaustive investigation. We chased down every lead and interviewed at least 30 people."

Police are not sure how the defendant was able to enter the victim's home. It is alleged the defendant had been hanging out with his friends in the Landing area at about 4 a.m. He spotted the victim when she took out her garbage. He entered the home and woke her from a deep sleep, demanded money and then perpetrated the crime.

On Dec. 31 just before 11 p.m., Glen Cove police busted a New Year's Eve party at Eva's Lantern and in the resulting melee, Glen Cove Detective Steve Vetrone was jumped, kicked and beaten by several of the mostly underage kids in attendance. According to Detective Fitzpatrick, almost all of the partygoers are graduates of Great Neck High School.

Hundreds of kids were in Eva's Lantern for what was supposed to be a party for adults. Detective Fitzpatrick said police are reasonably sure the event was organized, and the restaurant rented by, a "professional" party organizer. These organizers put together the latest in party trends which are called rave parties. Once the rave party is booked in rented halls and/or people's homes it is advertised in fliers and on the Internet. Partygoers pay a cover charge, making this "business" a profit-making enterprise.

On New Year's Eve, two Glen Cove police officers working private security detail at Eva's Lantern discovered that the majority of kids drinking at the increasingly raucous party were underage. When police tried to close down the party, chaos erupted resulting in the arrest of three 19-year-old males. Detective Birkenhead made two arrests at the scene; the other arrest was made in Great Neck on New Year's Day. Two defendants, (one from Great Neck, one from Kings Point), arrested at the scene were charged with assault. The defendant arrested in Great Neck was charged with criminal mischief for allegedly damaging the restaurant's cash register.

Glen Cove police are investigating whether the party organizer may be liable either civilly or criminally. The defendants were arraigned in Glen Cove City Court, Judge Richard McCord presiding. Detective Vetrone sustained facial injuries from which he is recovering.

On Dec. 28, two Nassau County deputy sheriffs went to a house on Glen Cove Avenue to enforce a Glen Cove warrant for the arrest of a male occupant. The 37-year-old male resisted, a scuffle broke out which spilled out into the street. A Town of Oyster Bay employee and a Nassau County fire marshal happened to be driving by the scene. The two stopped and assisted the police in subduing and cuffing the defendant. The town employee then called Glen Cove police using his cellphone. Glen Cove officers responded and assisted with the arrest. The defendant was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead. According to the GCPD, without the assistance of the two passersby, there would have been a big problem. During the scuffle, one of the sheriffs sustained an injury to his knee.

Detective John Nagle arrested a 19-year-old male on Glen Cove Avenue. Defendant was charged with criminal contempt, second degree.

P.O. Mancusi arrested a 57-year-old female on Forest Avenue at Bryce Avenue and charged her with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration; not having insurance and on an outstanding warrant for issuing a bad check.

Detective Birkenhead arrested a 23-year-old male on Donahue Street and charged him with criminal possession of a weapon, third degree and reckless endangerment, first degree.

Detective Nagle arrested a 37-year-old male on Glen Cove Avenue and charged him with assault, second degree and resisting arrest.

P.O. Albin arrested a 48-year-old male on Poppy Lane and charged him with assault, third degree.