Crime & Safety

Police End One-Man Crime Spree With Arrest

Darryl Meachem, 50, tied to recent robberies of a pet store, cigar shop, a CVS and several hold-ups in Fort Greene Park.

Police made a major arrest Saturday in connection to a string of robberies in Fort Greene in recent weeks.

The suspect, Darryl Meachem, 50, was arrested at his apartment at 151 N. Elliott Walk in Ingersoll Houses without incident. Police seized an "imitation" firearm at the residence; however, it was unclear whether it was used in any of the incidents.

Police charged Meachem with a robbery Friday morning at , a pet store on Adelphi Street in Fort Greene, in which $100 was taken from the register after Meachem allegedly brandished a weapon.

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An employee, who was alone in the store at the time of the incident, later identified Meachem in a line-up at the 88th Precinct station house.

Meachem was also charged with a robbery Sept. 21 of Fort Greene's Smoke Shop at 719 Fulton St., where $250 in cash was taken.

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According to police, Meachem confessed to an on Myrtle Avenue and Ashland Place. In that incident, the robber made off with $100 after telling the employee, "Put the money in the bag. Don't lose your life over this."

Police said Meachem was also a suspect in several robberies in Fort Greene Park.

Still unclear was whether the arrest would make a dent in the recent surge of robberies in and around the park, which included an afternoon stick-up of Cobble Hill author Arthur Phillips two weekends ago.

Meacham was charged with first-degree robbery, a Class B felony, as well as one count of criminal possession of a firearm. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 30 at Brooklyn Criminal Court.

As for the employee who identified Meachem, he was "too freaked out" by the incident to return to work at the pet store, according to Who's Your Doggy owner Tracy Klonowski.


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