judge

Man Heard Threatening Police Faces Weapons Charges: NYPD

A Queens man was arrested on weapons and drug charges after a bystander overheard him talking on the phone about killing police officers, the NYPD says.

Elvin Payamps, 38, was arrested after a 54-year-old man overheard a suspect matching his description talking about killing cops and having guns at his home while at a TD Bank on Metropolitan Avenue an d 80th Street in Woodside on Christmas Eve.

The 54-year-old called police, who responded to the scene. The suspect had left the bank by the time officers arrived, but police say they were able to get the man's description. 

Police tracked down Payamps driving a car a short distance away. They say they pulled over his car and allegedly found a small bag of what appeared to be marijuana in the front seat. Payamps was then arrested on drug possession charges.

Later, police say they went to Payamp's home on Edsall Avenue and got written and verbal consent from his spouse to search the home.

That's when police say they found two guns, two bullet-proof vest, a gun holster and brass knuckles. Payamps was then additionally charged with three counts of criminal possession of a weapon after the discovery.

Payamps' arrest is one of at least six arrests relating to threats against the NYPD in recent days. Police said Wednesday they've looked into about 40 threats made to the department after two officers were gunned down in their patrol car by a man who posted on Instagram that he was "putting wings on pigs." 

Emergency Services Unit officers were providing additional protection at two Brooklyn precincts and police said Wednesday they were remaining vigilant while investigating the origin of the threats, which they didn't detail.

Some of the other arrests include that of an 18-year-old who allegedly put up a menacing photo and message online on Saturday, hours after the afternoon ambush shootings of officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

Teenager Devon Coley posted a photo on his Facebook page Saturday night of a gunman shooting at a patrol car, symbols showing a gun pointed at an officer's head and a caption with his local precinct's number and "next," according to a court complaint.

His lawyer, Daniel Ades, said Wednesday that the state terroristic-threats law was being misapplied.

The police department also said one 52-year-old man had been arrested after walking into a Manhattan stationhouse and saying: "If I punch you in the face, how much time will I get?" and refusing to leave.

In addition, two Staten Island residents were arrested in separate incidents on Tuesday. A 16-year-old was arrested on a charge of making a terrorist threat and a 46-year-old man was charged with making a false report.

Mayor Bill de Blasio denounced the various threats Wednesday and said the city "will protect the men and women who protect us."

"New York City stands with our police officers in this time of tragedy, as we do every day, and our city will not be intimidated by those spouting hateful, violent messages," he said in a statement. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us