BROOKLYN MAN IS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH CONSPIRING TO COMMIT MURDER, ROBBERY AND ARSON

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today the arrest of a 33 year-old Brooklyn man for allegedly conspiring to rob, murder and burn a neighborhood pizza shop located at 173 Hemlock Street, Brooklyn.

Edmund Melendez, of 22 Adler Place in Brooklyn, was arrested and charged with one count of Conspiracy in the 2nd degree, a Class “B” felony offense. If convicted, Melendez, a persistent violent felony offender, faces a maximum term of up to 25 years imprisonment.

It is alleged that in the vicinity of White Plains Road and Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, Melendez met with an undercover police officer from the Bronx DA’s Office who he believed to be a “hitman”. While plotting the crime, the defendant allegedly suggested that there would be $50,000 at the location, and provided a diagram of the pizza shop. According to the Criminal Court Complaint, Melendez described in detail how the crime should take place, including a statement that he would “cut their throats, kill them and burn the place”. He was then immediately arrested.

Mr. Johnson thanked the Officers of the NYPD Conditions Unit of the 43rd Precinct, and the members of Bronx District Attorney’s Detective Investigator’s Squad for bringing this case to an expeditious and nonviolent conclusion.

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Sullivan of the Rackets Bureau will be prosecuting this case.