Rockland D.A.: Career Criminal Convicted In Robbery Attempt

A Spring Valley man labeled a career criminal has been convicted in a 2010 robbery attempt in which a store owner was struck several times with a gun, Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said today.

Edward Brims, 54, of 244 N. Main St., Spring Valley faces a minimum state prison sentence of 16 years to life when he is sentenced in Rockland County Court in New City. He was convicted by a Rockland jury of attempted robbery, weapon possession and assault.

Zugibe said Brims has nine prior convictions, including felonies for robbery and escape, and he is suspected of committing a string of armed robberies throughout Rockland County in mid- to late-2010.

DNA evidence found on a mask used in the Oct. 7, 2010, robbery attempt at Guzzles convenience store on North Main Street in Hillcrest and on the trigger of a gun recoved after a police chase linked Brims to the crime.

In the 7 p.m. robbery attempt, the owner of the convenience store thought he was going to be shot when he heard a "click" as he was approached by a masked man with a gun. The store owner rushed his attacker and was able to remove the man's mask.

Although the store owner was struck several times with the gun, Zugibe said the man was not seriously injured in the attack.

Four days after the robbery attempt, investigators armed with DNA evidence from the gunman's mask set out to arrest Brims. Police from several agencies were involved in an attempt to arrest him by stopping his car on North Main Street in Spring Valley.

However, Brims fled police, leading them on a high-speed chase for two miles, ending when Brims crashed on Decatur Avenue in Spring Valley when his car hit a patch of ice.

Zugibe said a search of the route of the chase led to the discovery of a loaded 9mm Ruger handgun, which matched the discription of the gun used in the robbery attempt and had Brim's DNA on the trigger. Police had suspected Brims tossed a gun out of his car during the chase.

Brim’s trial began Jan. 9 before Rockland County Court Judge William A. Kelly. The jury returned a guilty verdict of guilty after less than three hours of deliberations.

Sentencing is scheduled for March 30.