Brides Helping Brides ™ - The Story that Jamie (Swags) told us about :

Post new topic

Wedding Forums > Brides Helping Brides ™ > The Story that Jamie (Swags) told us about :

The Story that Jamie (Swags) told us about :

anna Posted: Jun 13, 2003 04:37 PM+

anna MEMBER SINCE: 5/01 TOTAL POSTS : 6642 WEDDING DATE: Oct 08, 2000

Posted: Jun 13, 2003 04:37 PM

The Story that Jamie (Swags) told us about :

The Ride of His Life
Boy, 7, and man, 65, give carjack suspect more than he can handle

By Zachary R. Dowdy
STAFF WRITER

June 13, 2003

At age 65, Richard Gambardella, of Lake Ronkonkoma, may seem like easy prey for a muscle-bound, 20-something carjacker. And at age 7, Peter McKasty looks even more vulnerable.

But, Suffolk detectives said, each of them held their own against David Thompson, 23, of South Setauket Wednesday. He stands 6-feet tall and weighs more than 200 pounds.

First, Thompson tried to steal Gambardella's 1996 Chrysler in a Ronkonkoma parking lot and then - after Gambardella fought him off and drove away - Thompson went after a hatchback with Peter and his sister still inside, police said.

Thompson himself was then allegedly attacked. The boy went to work on Thompson's long mane of hair, yanking it and screaming in his ear until he let Peter and his 9-year-old sister Kristin get out, Peter said.

Police are calling it the case of the persistent carjacker. They have charged Thompson with a string of felonies and misdemeanors: second-degree robbery, second-degree assault, unlawful imprisonment, second-degree attempted robbery and third-degree assault.

Thompson was held without bail for a court appearance today.

The ordeal began when Gambardella was getting into his car at the Kohl's shopping center on Ronkonkoma Avenue in Ronkonkoma about 6:10 p.m., said Det. Lt. Gerard Pelkofsky, commander of the Fourth Squad.

Thompson allegedly tried to grab the car keys. He struggled with Gambardella, punching his head and injuring his arm. But somehow, as the pair wrestled on the ground, Gambardella managed to kick Thompson in the mouth, police said.

That gave Gambardella enough time to get into the car and drive off, even as Thompson continued to bang on the window, but Gambardella nicked Diane McKasty's car as he drove off, police said.

Upset that she had become a victim of a hit-and-run accident, but oblivious to the attempted car-jacking, McKasty, of Ronkonkoma, got out to examine the damage.

'I got out and said 'Why is this man leaving? He just hit me,'' McKasty said.

That's when Thompson hopped into her car, and slammed the door on Peter's finger, fracturing it, police and McKasty said.

He sped off as McKasty tried to grab the steering wheel and screamed that her children were in the car. She ran alongside the car but fell down and was dragged for several feet as Thompson gunned it, Pelkofsky said. She got some cuts and bruises in the fall and could do nothing but scream as she watched her car bolt away with Peter and Kristin.

But despite his determination, police said, Thompson fared no better with the youngster: The tyke was a headache - literally - from the moment Thompson slammed the car door on Peter's finger.

Peter, who was in the rear seat on the driver's side, said he immediately began yanking on Thompson's locks and screaming in his ears until Thompson let the children out of the car in the parking lot.

Thompson then drove to a Modell's sporting goods store in Centereach 10 miles away, where he shoplifted a pair of sneakers and an Allen Iverson basketball jersey, police said. He was finally nabbed by Fourth Precinct Officer Daryl Quinones, who anticipated the thief's next move would be the Smith Haven Mall.

Quinones spotted the car near the Verizon store, called for back-up and helped arrest Thompson as he walked out of the mall, police said.

'He was combative and loud and argumentative,' said Pelkofsky, describing Thompson's conduct.

Peter and Diane McKasty were treated for their injuries at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson and released. Gambardella was treated at St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown and released.

Peter McKasty took a day off from school yesterday for his mother to nurse his finger.Gambardella could not be reached for comment, but Peter had choice words for his attacker.

'I was thinking he was an idiot,' Peter said.
Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.

swags1016 Posted: Jun 13, 2003 04:42 PM+

swags1016 MEMBER SINCE: 3/03 TOTAL POSTS : 12228 WEDDING DATE: Jul 26, 2003

Posted: Jun 13, 2003 04:42 PM