Fourth Cambria Heights man charged with Douglaston home invasion, burglary and kidnapping: Prosecutor – QNS

A Queens grand jury has indicted a fourth Cambria Heights man in connection with an incident. Douglaston Home invasion in August.

Oneil Thompson, 45, was arraigned Friday in Queens Supreme Court on a 41-count indictment charging him with seven counts of kidnapping and numerous other crimes, including robbery, theft, assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Thompson allegedly served as a getaway driver for three men indicted: Jone Smith and brothers Ryan and Brandon Dash. He was brought to court last month for allegedly breaking into a residence and holding a family hostage.

According to the indictment and investigation, around 2:15 a.m. on Aug. 17, surveillance video showed three masked men arriving at the home on 247th Street in Douglaston in a large white van driven by Thompson. Thompson remained in the vehicle while Smith and the Dash brothers entered the home and woke the two adults at gunpoint. The homeowners were sleeping in the bedroom with their 1-year-old child.

At around 2:30 a.m., video surveillance showed the white van’s lights flashing and Thompson exiting the driver’s side door while the other three defendants remained inside the home. The trio allegedly physically restrained the residents of the house and demanded to know the location of the money in the house. One of the men allegedly brandished a gun, while the other two displayed a hammer and crowbar. More than $20,000 in cash was taken from the homeowners.

A mother escaped from the house with her baby through the bathroom window and immediately called 911. Responding officers from the 11th Precinct in Bayside and the 109th Precinct in Flushing determined that three males, four adult hostages and two children were remaining in the home. The masked trio were later seen climbing out the window.

Police detained 3 people after the intervention extensive manhunt near the house. Two of the hostages were taken to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. Following the arrests, the stolen money and a loaded gun were seized.

A subsequent search warrant on the white van revealed that the vehicle was registered to Thompson. He allegedly fled the scene and returned to Cambria Heights. After an extensive investigation by the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department, cell site records showed that Thompson was nearby at the time of the crime and was communicating with one of the defendants in the home. Det. Savvas Tjortjoglou arrested Thompson on Thursday, October 24. He was being held at the 111th Precinct in Bayside.

“As alleged, this defendant knowingly and willfully participated in a highly alarming home invasion that resulted in a family being held hostage with a loaded gun and two other weapons,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “Thanks to the brave actions of a young mother, this incident did not end in tragedy.”

Queen’s Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky remanded Thompson into custody without bail and ordered him to return to court on November 20. If convicted of the high-level charge, Thompson faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Smith and the Dash brothers face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

“Everyone involved in this incident has been arrested and faces justice in our courts for this attack,” Katz said.