I.P. Man Charged with Grand Theft After Scuffle with Off-Duty Cop

An Island Park man was slapped with multiple charges after an off-duty Long Beach police officer spotted him breaking into a car and struggled with the suspect on Tuesday.

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The officer, John Whelan, was in the area of East Walnut Street and Monroe Boulevard at about 2:44 p.m Jan. 14 when he observed a male suspect trying to open the door of a parked car, Lt. Eric Cregeen told Patch. Whelan then spotted him inside another car as he rummaged through its glove compartment. The off-duty officer then approached the car.

“The officer opens the door and grabs him, and the guy didn’t want to go and they got into a scuffle,” Cregeen said. “While the officer was scuffling with him he tried to call 911 with his cell phone, and the suspect grabbed the phone out of his hand and throws it.”

Cregeen said that the officer was eventually able to put the suspect to the ground and hold him down, after which police officers arrived on the scene and arrested him.

Nelson Gonzalez, 23, of Island Park was charged with grand larceny property from a person, criminal mischief with intent to damage property, disabled equipment to prevent emergency call to police, petit larceny and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

City Court Judge Tepper on Tuesday arraigned Gonzalez, setting bail at $10,000 bond over $5,000 cash. Gonzalez was scheduled to appear at City Court on Thursday.