Crime Nearby: International Hunt Catches Man

Westbury

An international manhunt has led to the arrest of a former Hicksville man wanted in the gruesome 2001 hit-and-run murder of an 80-year-old woman in Westbury. Sebastian Barba, 34, formerly of Hicksville, has been captured in Panama and returned to the United States for trial. He faces second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an incident and faces up to 25 years to life if convicted, said Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice.  Barba was driving a 1995 Cadillac when he ran down Jean Renison on Feb. 6, 2001, as she crossed Post Avenue at Maple Avenue, Rice said. The force of the collision threw Renison onto the hood of the vehicle, but Barba then applied the brakes, causing the victim to fall to the ground in front of the vehicle. The gruesome vehicular attack continued: Barba is accused of slowly driving over the victim’s chest with the front tires and her head with the back tires while a witness screamed at him to stop, Rice said. Barba sped away from the scene and then fled to Ecuador, where he has dual citizenship. A grand jury indicted him shortly thereafter and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Barba was later featured on a May 2005 episode of America’s Most Wanted.

Bethpage

Three generators were stolen from a Bethpage center for children and adults with disabilities the night before Hurricane Sandy hit. Nassau County Police reported that at about 8 p.m. Oct. 28, thieves took three generators from Adults and Children with Learning and Developmental Disabilities, Inc. in Bethpage.

Riverhead

A Riverhead man was charged with leading police on a chase while under the influence of drugs -- with his three-month-old son in the car. Tyshawn O. Riddick, 22, of Riverhead was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs with a baby in the car, a violation of Leandra's Law, and driving with a suspended license.

Northampton

Charles Gamble, 31, of East Quogue, was arrested in Northampton on two felony drug charges on Nov. 10 at 10:10 p.m. Police reported that Gamble was stopped on Lake Avenue in his vehicle and attempted to flee. After a brief foot pursuit, cops said they captured Gamble, used a Taser to subdue him, and found 35 bags of crack cocaine. Gamble was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance fourth and third degrees, both felonies. Gamble was also charged with resisting arrest,  a misdemeanor.

Wheatley Heights

A sneaker store owner has been charged with filing a false report with police claiming his store was burglarized at the height of Hurricane Sandy. Wilguens Mentor, 28, the owner of Fly Forever Sneakers in Wheatley Heights, told police that burglars broke into his store during the storm, according to Suffolk County police. He said the burglars had made off with more than $60,000 in merchandise, police said. But following an investigation, police said nothing had been stolen. Mentor had actually filed the report in an effort to defraud his insurance company, police said. Mentor was charged with second-degree attempted insurance fraud and third-degree falsely reporting an incident, police said.

Massapequa

On Nov. 1, a fight broke out between two people at the Hess Station. Police said Anthony Iuzzolino, 42, of Merrick, punched a man in the face, knocking him down. James Knaust, 45, of Merrick, came over and began striking him in the face, cops said. Both were arrested and charged with second degree assault.

West Babylon

Two West Babylon residents were arrested Saturday morning after allegedly burglarizing a Wantagh home in October. According to Nassau County detectives, on Oct. 23, a 76-year-old woman noticed that cash and credit cards were missing from her home. Frank Corsetti Jr., 35, and Lorraine Cianciulli, 38, were arrested Saturday in connection with the burglary after using one of the victim’s credit cards, police said. The duo allegedly charged more than $300 to the card. Corsetti Jr. and Cianciulli are charged with forgery in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and identity theft in the second degree.