MySpace page used against gang suspect
LOCKPORT — A police officer testified at length Thursday in Niagara County Court about the alleged activities of a reputed Niagara Falls gang leader, but the judge said that what really hurt the suspect was his MySpace page.
Niagara Falls Field Intelligence Officer Karl Brusino alleged on the witness stand that Spencer J. Bomberry, 23, of Walnut Avenue, is a leader of the 8- Trey Gangster Crips, a gang which he said controls the turf on 19th Street between Niagara Street and Pine Avenue. He called those few blocks “the center of all criminal activity in Niagara Falls.”
In an unusual move, Assistant District Attorney Steven J. Foley called Brusino to the stand to bolster his attempt to get Judge Matthew J. Murphy III to deny bail to Bomberry. He was arraigned Thursday on an indictment charging him with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Bomberry, who pleaded not guilty, is accused of slashing a man in the face with a knife during a street fight Aug. 4. He was free on a $5,000 bail bond.
Murphy didn’t revoke bail
completely, as Foley wished, but he did raise the bail to $50,000 cash.
Murphy said, “I particularly give credence to a MySpace page that gives clear evidence of gang membership.”
The 10-page printout Foley provided from the social networking Web site showed Bomberry wearing gang clothing, giving Crips hand signs and even posing with his children and relatives in gang colors.
“I couldn’t have made a better [Web page] myself for teaching purposes,” said Brusino, who is Greater Niagara regional director of the New York Gang Investigators Association.
Foley also handed in a booking photo of Bomberry with alleged Crips logos tattooed on both arms.
Murphy said he also had read the grand jury file, where the victim identified Bomberry as his attacker. “I do think the evidence is strong and the likelihood of conviction is great,” the judge said.
Bomberry showed up for court in a light blue T-shirt and dark blue jeans. Brusino testified, “That is a definite sign of gang membership, wearing all blue.”
The officer said the Crips are involved in marijuana and crack cocaine dealing, and have marked the 19th Street alleys with a full block of their graffiti. Among the paint markings, Brusino said, is Bomberry’s alleged street nickname, “Grimey Capone.”
“There’s a lot of fear of him in the area,” Brusino said. “I believe he has a leadership position.”
Brusino said that Bomberry’s base of operations appeared to be a house at 484 19th St., which Brusino has under regular surveillance.
Assistant Public Defender Michael E. Benedict established that although Bomberry and Brusino had talked a few times, including showing off a gunshot wound to his arm, Bomberry never admitted belonging to the Crips. Brusino said Bomberry had told that to some other officers.
“He has always been OK talking to me,” Brusino said. “He’s never been rude to me in any way.”
But that doesn’t mean Bomberry was open about his activities, which have led to 12 previous arrests.
“They never do [cooperate] unless they have some kind of moment of clarity on the operating table,” Brusino said.
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