Carjacking suspects held without bail
Pictured, second from left, are Remick Menjivar, Edwin Flores and Shameik Howard. Mejivar and Flores were held without bail after being arraigned on multiple charges related to a carjacking in Hicksville. Howard, who police said was arrested with Flores in a stolen Toyota after the carjacking, was arraigned on charges of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and was ordered held on bail of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. (May 21, 2012) Credit: Howard Schnapp
A Nassau County judge ordered the two men accused of an armed carjacking -- in which one of them allegedly crashed the stolen car into the wall of a North Merrick elementary school -- jailed without bail Wednesday.
Remick X. Menjivar, 18, of Freeport, and Edwin Flores, 20, of Hicksville, entered not-guilty pleas before Judge Colin O'Donnell of First District Court in Hempstead.
The alleged driver, Menjivar, of 102 Washburn Ave., and his alleged accomplice, Flores, of 163 Woodbury Rd., were arraigned on charges of first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree robbery, first-degree criminal use of a firearm and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Additional charges against Menjivar, who police said had a 9-mm semiautomatic handgun when officers wrestled him to the ground at the Harold Fayette Elementary School, include three counts of second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and resisting arrest.
Flores also is charged with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
The judge also issued an order of protection against Menjivar for the carjacking victim.
Police said Menjivar and Flores approached Chris Verde, 26, in the garage of his Hicksville home, pointed the pistol at him and took his 2006 gray Infiniti shortly before noon Tuesday. The two had driven to the scene, on Ohio Street, in another stolen car, a 2011 Toyota Corolla. Menjivar took off in the Infiniti and Flores fled in the Toyota, police said.
A third man, Shameik Howard, 20, of 64 Mount Ave., Freeport, who police said was arrested with Flores in the Toyota after the carjacking, was arraigned on charges of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Cops saw them in front of the Mount Avenue address with the Corolla, which had been reported stolen last Friday in eastern Queens.
Howard, who pleaded not guilty, was ordered held on bail of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond. The Legal Aid attorney who represented Menjivar, Flores and Howard for arraignment declined to comment.
The carjacking ended after Bureau of Special Operations officers in four cars chased the Infiniti into the school parking lot. Trying to escape, Menjivar crashed into one of the officer's cars and careened into the wall. Officers then tackled him as he ran toward the school's doors, fumbling with the loaded pistol, police said.
According to court papers, three officers were injured -- one sustained a concussion in the crash, another tore a hamstring and was cut on his right leg, and the third suffered neck, back and head injuries. All three have been released from the hospital.
With Gary Dymski, Patricia Kitchen, Ellen Yan and Matthew Chayes
