Crimes Nearby: Football Star Charged With Murder, Medicaid Fraud Sweep

A former star running back for who led the Cyclones to its last Nassau County football championship in 2001 was arrested on Thursday in connection with a in Hempstead last November.

Bryant Daniels, 27, of Rockville Centre, was charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of a 40-year-old man during a botched robbery outside of a Hempstead home on Nov. 4. According to Nassau County Homicide Detectives, on Nov. 4, Melvin Wells, 40, was found fatally shot on the sidewalk in front of 133 Linden Ave. in Hempstead at 8:35 p.m.

James Rutledge, 20, of Rockville Centre, and Ramona Butler, 23, of Hempstead, were arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the same case last year.

Officials said Butler set up an unknown man, and Rutledge and Daniels robbed the victim. Wells witnessed the robbery and fired his own gun at the suspects, who in turn fired back and killed him.

Police Looking Into Fire at Valley Stream South High School

The Nassau County Arson Bomb Squad is investigating a fire that was discovered on Wednesday in a waste paper can in the second floor bathroom of Valley Stream South High School, according to police.

At 2:01 p.m. on Wednesday, the fire alarm sounded and the school was evacuated after the fire was discovered, police said. The Valley Stream Fire Department responded to the scene with about 15 members. No injuries were reported. Classes resumed at the school.

Some heat and water damage was reported to the bathroom, police said. The cause of the fire is undetermined and the investigation is ongoing.

Valley Stream Residents Busted in Medicaid Fraud Sweep

Two Valley Stream residents were arrested as a result of a sweep targeting Nassau residents who steal undeserved Medicaid and public assistance benefits, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced last Tuesday.

In total, ten people who collectively stole more than $458,000 were arrested.

Rizwan Basit, 32, and Shamama Shamin, 28, of Valley Stream, were arrested on Sept. 21 for allegedly stealing more than $16,000 in underserved Medicaid benefits by failing to disclose the ownership of two Cold Stone Creamery locations, two Mercedes-Benzes and annual bank deposits of $140,000 to $193,000 between 2007 and December 2010, according to Rice.

Basit and Shamin are charged with welfare fraud in the third degree, grand larceny in the third degree, and offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree. They face up to seven years in prison if convicted and are due back in court on Dec. 7.

A local landscaper helped police nab two men last Sunday who allegedly sold him his own equipment after it had been stolen days earlier in West Hempstead.

Nassau County Police arrested Leo Williams, 53, of Uniondale, and Robbie Thomas, 45, of Roosevelt, and charged them both with criminal possession of stolen property.

After an initial meeting where the victim bought back his stolen equipment, he arranged a second meeting with Thomas and Williams on Oct. 16 at the intersection of Hill Street and Brookside Avenue in Uniondale, where detectives placed them under arrest.

Cops: Road Rage Prompts West Hempstead Man to Allegedly Draw Gun

A case of road rage took a frightening turn on Oct. 13, when cops said a West Hempstead man pointed a gun at another driver.

Garden City Police responded to a report of a man with a gun on Rockaway Avenue and Fourth Street in the village last week. Upon their investigation, it was determined that a 48-year-old male from West Hempstead and a 22-year-old male from Woodmere were involved in a road rage incident.

Cops said the West Hempstead man exited his vehicle and allegedly pointed a handgun at the other man. He then fled the scene but was located at his home on Mayfair Avenue, where the gun was recovered, police said.

He was placed under arrest for menacing, reckless endangerment and possession of a weapon. The unidentified man was also charged with five additional counts of criminal possession of a weapon when it was discovered that he had additional handguns at his residence.

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The above information was supplied by the Nassau, Lynbrook, Long Beach and Rockville Centre police departments. A criminal charge is only an accusation, and does not indicate convictions