Cops: Brooklyn man was stealing used King Kullen cooking oil

A Brooklyn man might’ve thought he’d struck oil behind a Valley Stream supermarket, but alert police officers put an end to his deep-fried dreams — charging him with petty larceny and a host of vehicle and traffic law violations.

Nassau County police said Fifth Precinct officers arrested Melvin Howell, 49, of Eldert Lane in East New York in Brooklyn, after finding him “stealing the oil” from waste oil containers behind a King Kullen supermarket on West Merrick Road about 3:20 a.m. Thursday.

Police said an investigation determined Howell was stealing the cooking oil and reselling it. Police did not specify to whom Howell was selling the oil.

Howell was charged with petty larceny, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and additional violations.

He was arraigned Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead, and held on $2,500 bail, according to court records. Attorney information for Howell was not available.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”