REVENGE IS A DUD

Police sealed off the intersection of 69th Place and Juniper Boulevard South in Middle Village last Friday morning, Nov. 20, after an Oakland Gardens man left a grenade behind at a local business following a dispute with the owner. Members of the NYPD Bomb Squad later determined that the device was a dud. (photo: Joseph Epstein) What started out as a dispute between a former employee and a Middle Village business owner last Friday morning, Nov. 20, led to a bomb scare that shut down the surrounding area after the ex-worker pulled out a grenade and threatened to pull the pin, police said.

Though the device was later determined to be a dud, authorities noted, it sparked a massive response by the 104th Precinct and other NYPD personnel who sealed off the intersection where the grenade was left by the suspect, 27-year-old Walter Beers.

Police sources noted that the Oakland Gardens resident was located and collared a few blocks away from the scene during a search.

Law enforcement sources stated the trouble began at around 9:35 a.m. last Friday at a business located in the vicinity of Juniper Boulevard South and 69th Place.

According to information obtained by police, Beers had been fired by the business owner earlier in the morning and returned to the location, where he confronted him.

During the argument that ensued, police sources stated, the suspect allegedly produced the grenade and threatened to pull the pin and detonate it. Reportedly, he left the grenade inside a car parked at the location and fled from the scene.

Members of the 104th Precinct responded to the location after receiving reports of the incident. All vehicular and pedestrian traffic around the location of the grenade was sealed off by the officers as a precaution.

Fire Department sources added that a nearby animal hospital and day care center were locked down.

The NYPD Bomb Squad and Emergency Services Unit arrived at the location a short time later. During an inspection of the grenade, police said, it was determined that the device was inert.

Officers from the precinct obtained a description of the suspect and canvassed the surrounding area for him. During the search, it was noted, Police Officers Natasha Moseley and Brion Shibetti stopped Beers as he was walking at the intersection of 69th Street and 61st Drive.

Beers was placed under arrest and subsequently charged with criminal possession of a weapon, menacing and harassment, police said.