2 Men Face Multiple Charges After Bank Incident in New City

NEW CITY, NY — Two Brooklyn men face fraud, stolen property and identity theft charges after an incident Friday at the Citi Bank on North Main Street.

Clarkstown police responded at 3:15 p.m. to a report of possible fraud at the 170 N. Main St. bank branch in New City.

The bank manager had called the police to report a man attempting to cash a fraudulent check for $1,989.72. The manager was also able to give a description of the car waiting for him parked outside the bank.

While some officers stopped to question the driver of the car, others went inside.

Both men attempted then tried to flee.

Police took the driver of the car into custody without incident. However, the man inside the bank led police on a foot pursuit that ended behind the Walgreens store. The K-9 unit arrived on scene and the presence of the dog convinced the suspect to give up without any further resistance, police said.

One officer sustained minor injuries and was treated and released at Nyack ER.

The driver of the car was identified as Kashawn Crowswell, 19. The investigation revealed that he had attempted to withdraw funds from an account that was not his in which forged checks were deposited.

The man who ran away was identified as Quran Blue, also a 19-year-old Brooklyn resident.

Both were arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing.

Crowswell was charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th (felony), identity theft 2nd (felony) and scheme to defraud 1st (felony). Blue was charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th (felony), grand larceny 4th (felony), identity theft 2nd (felony) and scheme to defraud 1st (felony) and possession of a forged instrument 2nd (felony).

Blue and Crowswell were arraigned in Clarkstown Justice Court. Bail was set at $15,000. Both were transported to Rockland County Jail and will return to court on April 5.