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From the Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/269039p-230307c.html
Bravest chopped locks, bikes - DA
BY ALISON GENDAR,TONY SCLAFANI and SCOTT SHIFREL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
He was a hero firefighter one day, an alleged perp the next.
Days after shaving his head in solidarity with a fellow firefighter who had lost his hair to cancer treatments, Eric Kohler was among 13 people charged yesterday in a major motorcycle theft ring in Queens.
And he even may have gotten a police officer buddy ensnared in the mess.
"He's a good fellow," said Kohler's lawyer, Eugene Levy. "And he's going to get exonerated." Kohler, 32, wearing a black sweat suit and still sporting a bald pate, was escorted to Queens Supreme Court in handcuffs and released on $150,000 bail. He was charged with being part of a gang that stole motorcycles, chopped them up and sold the parts online. More arrests were expected today in the nine-month probe.
The cop, who grew up with Kohler, was flagged after the firefighter and another suspect mentioned him on a wire tap, sources said. Kohler also allegedly called the cop to ask for advice about the investigation and the officer told him to get a lawyer, sources said.
Internal Affairs probers and Queens prosecutors are investigating the cop, whose weapon was taken yesterday. He is expected to be assigned to desk duty.
Police sources said he's not suspected of breaking the law, but could be subject to administrative action. The theft probe began after a Queens man went online looking for a motorcycle similar to one of his that had just been stolen. He found parts of his bike, including a gas tank with a distinctive scratch, and notified authorities.
A 92-count indictment alleges the gang stole more than 80 motorcycles and sold the parts on Web sites catering to dwarf car racing - where cars are about half the size of regular vehicles and are powered by motorcycle engines.
Kohler's arrest shocked fellow firefighters at Engine 295 in Whitestone, Queens, who buzzed their heads this week for colleague Daniel Martin, 26, after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"I'm definitely surprised," Martin said last night. "I wouldn't think he would be into anything like that. He seemed like a very good firefighter."
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/269039p-230307c.html
Bravest chopped locks, bikes - DA
BY ALISON GENDAR,TONY SCLAFANI and SCOTT SHIFREL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
He was a hero firefighter one day, an alleged perp the next.
Days after shaving his head in solidarity with a fellow firefighter who had lost his hair to cancer treatments, Eric Kohler was among 13 people charged yesterday in a major motorcycle theft ring in Queens.
And he even may have gotten a police officer buddy ensnared in the mess.
"He's a good fellow," said Kohler's lawyer, Eugene Levy. "And he's going to get exonerated." Kohler, 32, wearing a black sweat suit and still sporting a bald pate, was escorted to Queens Supreme Court in handcuffs and released on $150,000 bail. He was charged with being part of a gang that stole motorcycles, chopped them up and sold the parts online. More arrests were expected today in the nine-month probe.
The cop, who grew up with Kohler, was flagged after the firefighter and another suspect mentioned him on a wire tap, sources said. Kohler also allegedly called the cop to ask for advice about the investigation and the officer told him to get a lawyer, sources said.
Internal Affairs probers and Queens prosecutors are investigating the cop, whose weapon was taken yesterday. He is expected to be assigned to desk duty.
Police sources said he's not suspected of breaking the law, but could be subject to administrative action. The theft probe began after a Queens man went online looking for a motorcycle similar to one of his that had just been stolen. He found parts of his bike, including a gas tank with a distinctive scratch, and notified authorities.
A 92-count indictment alleges the gang stole more than 80 motorcycles and sold the parts on Web sites catering to dwarf car racing - where cars are about half the size of regular vehicles and are powered by motorcycle engines.
Kohler's arrest shocked fellow firefighters at Engine 295 in Whitestone, Queens, who buzzed their heads this week for colleague Daniel Martin, 26, after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
"I'm definitely surprised," Martin said last night. "I wouldn't think he would be into anything like that. He seemed like a very good firefighter."
