SUOZZI AND WILLIAMS CALL FOR STATEWIDE DEBATES Gubernatorial Candidates Challenge Hochul to Participate in “Competition of Ideas”

 

Democratic candidates for Governor Congressman Tom Suozzi and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams sent a joint letter to broadcast television stations across the state encouraging them to hold televised debates ahead of the June 28th Democratic primary. Both candidates challenge Governor Kathy Hochul to participate in the debates with them. 

“Our state is at a crossroads with an important primary election coming up in just nine weeks,” said Suozzi and Williams in the letter. “These are unprecedented times for New Yorkers and voters need and deserve the opportunity to hear directly from all candidates in a transparent manner.”

Currently, Suozzi and Williams have confirmed their participation in two scheduled debates, including the recently announced June 16th debate hosted by NBC 4 New York/WNBC, Telemundo and the Albany Times Union. Hochul’s campaign has said she is “weighing whether to participate in the debate.”

There have been numerous virtual candidate forums that have been held by Democratic clubs, civic clubs and advocacy groups, since January. Suozzi and Williams have participated in nearly all, while Hochul has not participated in any of them, sending her former Lieutenant Governor instead.

“Democracy is about a competition of ideas,” stated Suozzi and Williams in their letter. “With no shortage of challenges facing New York, we believe that news organizations play an integral role in facilitating a rigorous discussion of the issues that voters expect of those entrusted to serve the public.”

Both candidates have pledged that they will debate anywhere at any time and believe it is incumbent upon good government groups and the media to not allow Hochul to duck debates when there is so much at stake in these elections. Suozzi and Williams both say they would like a minimum of six debates across the state as early as the beginning of May.

The Suozzi and Williams letter is below and can be downloaded here.

 

Our state is at a crossroads with an important primary election coming up in just nine weeks. These are unprecedented times for New Yorkers and voters need and deserve the opportunity to hear directly from all candidates in a transparent manner.

 

As two candidates who are running for governor, we are writing to request a series of public debates across New York State ahead of the Democratic primary on Tuesday, June 28.

 

To ensure that these debates occur, we encourage, and would gladly accept, an invitation from your news station to host an in-person televised debate in the coming weeks. Of course, we believe that every candidate who is running for governor and has secured their position on the ballot be afforded the opportunity to participate so that voters are informed before making their voices heard at the ballot box.

 

Democracy is about a competition of ideas. With no shortage of challenges facing New York, we believe that news organizations play an integral role in facilitating a rigorous discussion of the issues that voters expect of those entrusted to serve the public.

 

We welcome the opportunity to speak with you further to discuss preparations in advance so that all candidates can coordinate their schedules accordingly.

 

Sincerely,

 

Tom Suozzi     

Congressman (NY-3)                                            

Democratic candidate for Governor                      

Jumaane Williams

New York City Public Advocate

Democratic candidate for Governor

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE GREEN BUILDINGS, ESTABLISH NYC AS NATIONAL LEADER IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

 

Launched on Earth Day, ‘Building Action NYC’ Will Support Buildings in Making Energy Upgrades — Making Buildings More Resilient, Creating Thousands of Green Jobs, and Supporting Long-Term Development of Green Workforce

 

With Nearly 10,000 Buildings Already Aided Through ‘NYC Accelerator,’ Building Owners, Property Managers, and Developers Can Access Free Support to Reduce Carbon Emissions, Lower Costs, and Comply With Local Laws

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today launched ‘Building Action NYC,’ a new citywide campaign to promote steps to make New York City’s buildings greener and more resilient while fostering a healthier future for the city and New Yorkers. The city’s more than one million buildings — covering more than five billion square feet — constitute the largest source of the city’s carbon emissions, contributing almost 70 percent of the city’s total emissions. The work to limit building emissions will be a critical component of the city’s work towards reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

 

“We must become a carbon-neutral city, but we can only do that if we decarbonize our buildings, and we are going to ‘Get Stuff Done’ and make it happen,” said Mayor Adams. “Buildings are the largest emitters of carbon, so we are investing in bringing renewable energy to them and making New York City a national leader in green buildings — creating tens of thousands of jobs for New Yorkers and delivering environmental justice for our city.”

 

“Local Law 97 is called the Climate Mobilization Act for a reason: Tackling climate change and protecting New York will require all of us to get moving. For building owners and managers, that means improving energy efficiency, and New York City, in partnership with New York state, offers lots of ways to help,” said Rohit T. Aggarwala, New York City Chief Climate Officer; and commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection. “While energy efficiency may seem difficult at first, the success of the Fairview Co-op in Forest Hills demonstrates that all buildings can make progress if they put in just a bit of effort and realize long-term savings.”

 

“Ensuring that our buildings don’t contribute to our climate challenges isn’t just about reducing their carbon emissions,” said Kizzy Charles-Guzman, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice. “It’s about cleaning the air that we breathe, making our city more livable, reducing pollutants in our neighborhoods, creating green jobs for New Yorkers, and making the spaces where we live, work, and play healthier and more resilient. ‘Building Action NYC’ will connect directly with our frontline communities — educating and empowering New Yorkers to help us shape the city we need and deserve.”

 

“The ‘NYC Accelerator’ is key to helping building owners lower their emissions and helping New York City reach our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050,” said New York City Department of Buildings Acting Commissioner Constadino “Gus” Sirakis, P.E. “Our city has made significant strides to push forward building decarbonization in the last few years — work that is critical to protecting the lives of our fellow New Yorkers. The ‘Building Action NYC’ campaign builds on this work by educating building owners on the significant resources available to them to secure a greener future for all of us.”

 

Over the next month, New Yorkers will see the ‘Building Action NYC’ campaign throughout the city. The campaign will:

• Raise awareness about ‘NYC Accelerator,’ resources for building decision-makers, and a pledge for any New Yorker to “adopt a building” to facilitate making building upgrades;
• Showcase how this work supports environmental justice communities​and affordable housing; and
• Educate New Yorkers on the need for decarbonization, the benefits to buildings and residents, and the health of our city. ​

 

New Yorkers will find campaign messaging on storefront windows, broadcast radio, Google and web advertisements, and YouTube and video advertisements, as well as on social media.

 

Fairview Owners Corporation — the cooperative residence in Forest Hills, Queens that was the site of today’s announcement — is one of nearly 10,000 buildings that have benefited from ‘NYC Accelerator’ assistance to make energy upgrades, repair damaged solar panels, and access incentive programs and financing, all of which will help the building comply with Local Law 97. The significant flood damage that the Fairview suffered during Hurricane Ida in 2021 underscored the need for upgrades at that site and at buildings across the city.

 

Local Law 97 — which is part of the historic Climate Mobilization Act passed by the New York City Council in 2019 — is one of the most ambitious mandates for emission reductions in the nation. Under this groundbreaking legislation, most buildings over 25,000 square feet will be required to comply with greenhouse gas emissions limits by 2024, with stricter limits coming into effect in 2030.

 

More information on ‘NYC Accelerator’ is available online.

 

“We are excited about the launch of the ‘Building Action NYC’ campaign and the critical support the ‘NYC Accelerator’ provides to decarbonize buildings like the Fairview Co-op in Forest Hills, highlighting how PACE financing and technical support can improve living spaces through energy savings and efficiency to provide greater comfort,” said Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. “With these essential resources, Mayor Adams’ office is providing connections for consumers, businesses, and industry partners to reduce emissions and help frontline communities limit the impact of climate change.”

 

“Buildings are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York state and are at the forefront of our efforts to reduce emissions and create opportunities for New Yorkers,” said Basil Seggos, commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; and co-chair, State Climate Action Council. “Building decarbonization will help to improve the health and lives of people across the state, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and ensure environmental justice is part of our nation-leading environmental efforts under the leadership of Gov. Kathy Hochul to improve quality of life and protect our planet for generations to come. On Earth Day, and every day, we’re pleased to work with our partners, including Mayor Eric Adams, Chief Climate Officer Rit Aggarwala, and the entire New York City team, to take climate action and protect our communities and residents now and in the future.”

 

“Our city needs to deploy all tools in its toolbox to effectively implement our landmark Climate Mobilization Act,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “The ‘NYC Accelerator’ is an important resource that provides building owners with free access to technical assistance for identifying retrofit strategies and financial incentives for their building to be compliant with Local Law 97 and meeting our ambitious emissions reduction goals.”

Permits Filed For 130 Beach 120th Street In Rockaway Park, Queens

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This will be another test of placing an eight story building in a residential area much like the Foodtown Proposal for Community Board 10 in the Bronx.

Permits have been filed for an eight-story residential building at 130 Beach 120th Street in Rockaway Park, Queens. Located between Rockaway Beach Boulevard and the ocean promenade, the lot is within walking distance of the Rockaway Park-Beach 116th Street subway station, serviced by the A train. Dennis Druzhinsky under the 130 Beach 120 Rockaway LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 80-foot-tall development will yield 33,834 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 40 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 845 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar and 12 enclosed parking spaces.

Michael Muroff Architect is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Physician Indicted in $10 Million Telemedicine Health Care Fraud Scheme

 

 An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Elemer Raffai, an orthopedic surgeon, with health care fraud in connection with a $10 million scheme involving the submission of false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicare Part D plans. Raffai was arrested today and will make his initial court appearance this afternoon in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG); and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Albany Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and indictment.

“In exchange for kickbacks from telemedicine companies, Dr. Raffai allegedly submitted millions of dollars in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare on behalf of beneficiaries without even examining them or based on conversations on the phone that lasted less than three minutes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Dishonest doctors who think Medicare is a cash cow and connect with telemedicine companies to brazenly steal from this vital taxpayer-funded program, will find themselves arrested, prosecuted and their scheme disconnected.”

“These allegations describe a physician who is more motivated by personal enrichment than his duty to provide appropriate and necessary care to his patients,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Lampert. “Dr. Raffai is accused not only of disregarding proper patient care, but also of pilfering funds from a program upon which millions of citizens depend for health services. Our agency and law enforcement partners are dedicated to tracking down individuals who commit health care offenses, and their involvement in a fraud network does not insulate them from our pursuit.”

“Healthcare fraud is a serious crime that impacts every American. Dr. Raffai cheated the system for his own personal gain in the amount of $10 million. Like many others who commit healthcare fraud, Dr. Raffai’s crimes contribute to the rising cost of health care for everyone. The FBI, along with our partners, will continue to investigate healthcare fraud to ensure these individuals who willingly defraud the American people are brought to justice,” stated FBI Special Agent-in-Charge DiGuiseppi.

According to the indictment, Dr. Raffai purported to practice telemedicine with the AffordADoc Network and other telemedicine companies that paid the defendant for each consultation with a beneficiary. Between July 2016 and June 2017, Dr. Raffai allegedly participated in a health care fraud scheme in which he signed prescriptions and order forms via purported telemedicine services for durable medical equipment (DME), including orthotic braces, that were not medically necessary. Dr. Raffai caused the submission of these claims based solely on a short telephone conversation for beneficiaries he had not physically examined and evaluated, and that were induced, in part, by the payments of bribes and kickbacks. Dr. Raffai was paid by telemedicine companies approximately $25 or $30 per patient consultation. The indictment further alleges that Dr. Raffai, together with others, submitted or caused the submission of approximately $10 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for DME on behalf of beneficiaries who were residents of the Eastern District of New York, and Medicare paid more than $4 million on those claims.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Dr. Raffai faces up to 10 years in prison.

The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case, which was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force under the supervision by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Trial Attorneys Andrew Estes and Kelly M. Lyons of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are in charge of the prosecution.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS MARGARET ANADU CHAIR OF NYCEDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointment of Margaret Anadu as chair of the board of directors of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). Anadu is a national leader in identifying financially sound investments that provide resources for and support the growth of underserved communities.

 

In her role, Anadu will lead the organization’s 27-member board, which helps to guide NYCEDC’s agenda as the city’s primary economic development vehicle. NYCEDC leverages the city’s assets to create good jobs and drive growth, helping to build a more equitable inclusive economy as the city recovers from the pandemic.

 

“With her investing expertise and her deep commitment to underserved communities, Margaret Anadu is the right person to ensure the city’s economic development work is building a more prosperous, more equitable, and more inclusive city,” said Mayor Adams. “Bringing back our city’s economy is an urgent priority for this administration, but we must think bigger and do better than trying to bring back a pre-pandemic city. I look forward to working with Margaret and the rest of our NYCEDC leadership to build the stronger, fairer city New Yorkers deserve.”

 

“Margaret Anadu is one of the preeminent leaders in New York City on financing, structuring, and mission-driven investment,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “In joining our team as chair of the Economic Development Corporation, she will apply these skills and her years of experience to an essential task — charting a course for an accelerated and inclusive recovery that lifts all New Yorkers.”

 

“I am deeply humbled to serve as the chairwoman of the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s board of directors,” said Margaret Anadu, incoming chair, board of directors, NYCEDC. “Mayor Adams has a fearless vision to ensure the city’s economic recovery not only rapidly accelerates but also reaches and uplifts all New Yorkers, and I have directly witnessed EDC’s central role in driving that inclusive growth. In this incredibly important time, I am energized by the opportunity to volunteer my time and effort to build a stronger, more equitable, and more resilient future for this great city that we all love.”

 

“Margaret Anadu is uniquely qualified to serve as EDC board chair, as we work to both revitalize and build a more inclusive economy,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “The EDC team is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Margaret and benefit from her experience and leadership.”

 

About Margaret Anadu

 

Margaret Anadu has devoted her career to investing that simultaneously drives strong financial returns and demonstrable positive impact on underserved individuals, families, and communities. She is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts on equitable access to capital, having invested over $10 billion across hundreds of transactions throughout the United States, and was named one of the most influential figures in U.S. commercial real estate by Commercial Observer. Margaret is a trusted advisor to many senior government officials at the federal, state, and local levels on utilizing private capital to create more equitable communities. As an experienced investor and thought leader on public-private partnerships, Margaret is often asked to share her views, including appearances on CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, and Yahoo Finance. She was named to “40 Under 40” lists by Fortune, Black Enterprise, and Crain’s.

Until recently, Margaret was a partner at Goldman Sachs, where she was the global head of sustainability and impact for asset management and chair of the Urban Investment Group (UIG), the first impact investing platform at a major U.S. financial institution and Goldman Sachs’ primary impact investing platform. Under her leadership, UIG’s portfolio primarily comprised of real estate, with a focus on workforce, affordable, and mixed-income housing, but also included investments in community facilities, educational space, industrial facilities, green infrastructure, student loans, small businesses, and minority-owned financial institutions. Margaret ultimately grew the business to $3 billion of equity and debt commitments annually.

As a leader with a clear understanding of the role market-based capital plays in addressing society’s greatest challenges, Margaret was the chief architect of the One Million Black Women investment strategy — Goldman Sachs’ $10 billion capital commitment to narrow opportunity gaps for Black women in the United States and, by extension, their families and broader communities. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the firm’s $2 billion relief effort for small businesses.

Margaret serves on the boards of the Center for an Urban Future, the Low Income Investment Fund, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, New York Public Radio, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Africa Center.

Born in Houston, Texas, Margaret is a graduate of Harvard College and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

 

Governor Hochul Vetoes 33 Legislative Additions to the FY 2023 Enacted Budget

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the submission of 33 vetoes in accordance with Article VII of the State Constitution.

The vetoes include 23 appropriations that are fully expended and three that have minimal spending authority remaining. One appropriation is duplicative of another appropriation for the same purpose, and another appropriation has been previously vetoed. Five appropriations are vetoed on the grounds of being unconstitutional alterations.

The full list of vetoes is available here.

Chinese National Sentenced To 52 Months For $20 Million Covid-19 Pandemic Loan Fraud Scheme

Muge Ma, a/k/a “Hummer Mars,” Lied that His Phony Companies Had Hundreds of Employees and Paid Millions in Wages to Receive COVID-19 Loan Funds 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that MUGE MA, a/k/a “Hummer Mars,” was sentenced to 52 months in prison in connection with a fraudulent scheme to obtain over $20 million in Government-guaranteed loans designed to provide relief to small businesses during the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.  In connection with loan applications for relief available from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Program, MA falsely represented to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and six financial institutions that his companies, New York International Capital LLC (“NYIC”) and Hurley Human Resources LLC (“Hurley”), had hundreds of employees and paid millions of dollars in wages to those employees, when, in fact, MA appears to have been the only employee of his companies.  MA previously pled guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman, who imposed today’s sentence.  MA was arrested on May 21, 2020 and has been detained since his arrest. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Within days of Congress authorizing billions of dollars to help small businesses struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic, Muge Ma saw it as an opportunity to enrich himself by applying for millions of dollars in funds to pay wages to hundreds of employees that never existed.  Today’s sentence demonstrates that this Office and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to prosecute those who sought to commit pandemic relief fraud.”

According to public filings in Manhattan federal court:

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the SBA’s PPP.  Pursuant to the CARES Act, the amount of PPP funds a business is eligible to receive is determined by the number of employees employed by the business and their average payroll costs.  Businesses applying for a PPP loan must provide documentation to confirm that they have previously paid employees the compensation represented in the loan application.  The CARES Act also expanded the separate EIDL Program, which provided small businesses with low-interest loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing due to COVID-19. 

From at least in or about March 2020 through at least on or about May 15, 2020, MA applied to the SBA and at least six banks for a total of over $20 million in Government-guaranteed loans for his companies NYIC and Hurley (together, the “Ma Companies”) through the SBA’s PPP and EIDL Program.  In connection with these loan applications, MA represented, among other things, that he was the sole owner and executive director of the Ma Companies, that the Ma Companies were located on the sixth floor of his luxury condominium building in New York, New York, and that NYIC and Hurley together had hundreds of employees and paid millions of dollars in wages to those employees on a monthly basis.  In fact, however, MA appears to have been the only employee of NYIC since at least in or about 2019, and Hurley does not appear to have any employees.  In order to support the false representations made by MA in the loan applications about the number of employees at, and the wages paid by, the Ma Companies, MA submitted fraudulent and doctored bank records, tax records, insurance records, payroll records, and/or audited financial statements to six different banks, and also provided links to the Ma Companies’ websites, which describe them as purportedly “global” companies.  MA also used the name and identity of another person in connection with the submission of a fraudulent loan application and supporting documentation to at least one financial institution.

Before the discovery of the fraudulent conduct by MA, the SBA approved a $500,000 EIDL Program loan for NYIC and a $150,000 EIDL Program loan for Hurley, and $20,000 in loans advances were provided to MA by the SBA.  In addition, a bank approved and disbursed over approximately $800,000 in PPP loan funds for Hurley, which were frozen in connection with this investigation.  MA thereafter withdrew his loan applications from the banks and returned the funds.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI’s Financial Cybercrimes Task Force, SBA-OIG, and IRS-CI.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Office of the New York State Comptroller, the New York State Department of Labor, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.

Body cam footage released of Syracuse police stopping boy over bag of chips

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This is the viral video of boy being placed in police car over stolen bag of chips as released by the Syracuse Police.

The department has released all of the body-worn camera footage -- recordings from all three officers involved.

“Some of the video is hard to watch,” Syracuse Police First Deputy Chief Joe Cecile said at the news conference. “This morning, you saw more video from body cams of what occurred that day, a well-rounded story with a positive outcome.”

Here’s a synopsis of the videos police showed and discussed at the news conference:

When officers saw the three young children suspected of the thefts, they immediately jumped out of their cars and confronted them. One officer can be heard yelling “what are you doing” before an 8-year-old, who was sitting on his bike, dropped the bag of chips he was holding.

It was quickly clear that the officers were very familiar with the children involved. When Officer Matthew Behuniak, approached the 8-year-old, he asked the child if he remembered the last interaction they had.

“Didn’t we just go through this,” Behuniak said. “You were crying in the backseat of my car, remember that?”

Behuniak then instructs the child to get off his bike, before dumping the bag of chips onto his lap.

The child tells the officer, “It wasn’t me,” before being instructed to get off his bike again.

As Behuniak, who is holding the child by his hood, begins to pull him off the bike, you can hear a bystander demand that the officer removes his hands from the child. That bystander, Kenneth Jackson, filmed the video that went viral.

The officer pulls the child off the bike as Jackson continues to yell at the officer.

When the 8-year-old is pulled off the bike, another child involved tries to pull the 8-year-old away from the officer before giving up and stepping back.

Moments later, Jackson begins filming the now-viral video of the encounter. The child, being restrained by Behuniak, begins screaming that he was not the one that stole the chips.

Behuniak yells to Jackson that he does not understand the situation and should leave them to do their jobs.

Officer David Circiriello approaches Jackson to explain that the child was stealing things while Behuniak attempts to put the child into the back of the patrol car. Buhuniak later explains that he will be taking the child home.

The 8-year-old struggles with the officer as he attempts to get out of the car. Behuniak eventually pushes the child further away from the door and quickly closes it. Behuniak did not place a seatbelt on the child.

Once the child is in the car, Behuniak continues the verbal altercation with Jackson.

Behuniak points toward Jackson and tells him had he committed the same crime, he would be taken to jail, but the kids will be brought home.

The video shown by police then transitions to a clip from inside the patrol car as Behuniak drives the child home. The child continues to scream and begins banging on the barricade between the back seat and the front seat of the patrol car.

Behuniak tells the child that he is taking him home and tells him if he doesn’t want to be in this situation he has to stop stealing things.

The child continues to say that he was not the one who stole the chips while crying in the back seat of the patrol car.

The final video shown by police begins when the officers release the children to their father and begin a talking with him and the children in the street.

“What’s happening again today is the three of them are riding around the city, going into stores and grabbing up stuff and running out,” Behuniak told the father.

The father of the children shows visible frustration and disappointment with the situation. He explains that he is busy working and his wife is sick, making it difficult to keep a close eye on their kids.

The father even asks the officers if the kids could be detained for a while. The officers explains that they cannot detain the boys based on their ages and the petty nature of their crimes.

After speaking with the father, the officers join him to address the three children directly. Together the father and police explain to the children that they need to learn to be respectful of others and their property.

One officer asks the boys why they choose to lock up their bikes. The boys explain that they don’t want them to be stolen. The officer tells the boys that if they don’t like it when people take their things, they should consider that before stealing from others.

The officers ended the interaction by telling the children they did not want to meet them like this again. However, they hoped if they saw the kids around, they would be able to have a friendly conversation with them.