On Monday, June 8 , 2026, at 0116 hours, the following 27-year-old male off-duty New York City employee was arrested and charged within the confines of the 40th Precinct in the Bronx.
Arrested:
Jonathan Varela
NYPD Police Officer
Charges:
- illegal U-turn;
- failure to obey traffic signal;
- obstructing governmental administration.
The investigation remains ongoing.
All charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to call the NYPD‘s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1–800–577–TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1–888–57–PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers‘ website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All tips will be kept strictly confidential.
MORE ARTICLES
Jaden Purvis, 23, Murdered
On Monday, June 8, 2026, at approximately 0008 hours, NewThe Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association: June 2026 General Meeting
The Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association (PPNA) is pleased to announceThomas Little, 34, Murdered
On Saturday, June 6, 2026, at approximately 0037 hours, NewAmaury Toro, 43, Murdered
On Thursday, June 4, 2026, at approximately 0235 hours, NewBinky’s Backyard Opens At Gloria’s House In The Bronx, Bringing Safe Play Space To Hundreds Of Children
Samaritan Daytop Village last week held a ribbon-cutting ceremony toJessia Noel Cadiz On Native Bees, Biodiversity & New York City’s Green Spaces
This story was released as part of On Our Minds:Longwood Historic District & Extension Receive New Historic Markers In The Bronx
Today, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Chair LisaIMMIGRATION
NEWS
Cambodia Orders African Nationals To Leave By May 31, 2026 Or Face Prison & Heavy Fines
Cambodia has delivered a blunt message to African nationals living in the country. The Southeast Asian nation has ordered citizens from Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda, and several other African countries to leave by May 31, 2026, after a temporary immigration…
A Final Order Of Removal Has Just Been Issued For Antisemite Mahmoud Khalil
Finally, some long-overdue justice in the immigration system. On April 9, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a final order of removal against Mahmoud Khalil, the former Columbia University graduate student and notorious anti-Israel agitator who turned elite campus…
New York Attorney General James Takes Action To Protect Immigrant Workers
New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a coalition of 18 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to protect the H-1B visa program, which allows highly-trained immigrants to temporarily work in the United States and fill…
POLITICS
NEWS
Canada Medically Incarcerates Man Under Mental Health Act For Opposing Views
HEALTH
NEWS
NYC Health Department Urges New Yorkers To Take Precautions Against Ticks & Tick-Borne Illnesses
By Jonas BronckCompass Care NY: Apoyando a las Familias con Servicios Sociales Esenciales en Nueva York
By Jonas BronckCanada Medically Incarcerates Man Under Mental Health Act For Opposing Views
By Jonas BronckREAL ESTATE
NEWS
Renter vs. Homeowner Mobility Trends In Top 100 US Cities 2024
By Jonas BronckMayor Mamdani, HPD Announce Largest-Ever Penalty Against Negligent Bronx Landlords
By Jonas BronckNYCHA Holds “Modernize Together” Event, Convening Over 400 Attendees For Briefing On Innovative Capital Programs
By Jonas BronckConstruction Begins On A 213-Unit Affordable & Supportive Housing Development In The Bronx
By Jonas BronckNew York City Department Of Buildings Audit Finds Weak Climate Law Oversight
By Jonas BronckThe Bronx Hits Post-Pandemic Foreclosure High, Overtakes Brooklyn Activity
By Jonas BronckThe New York Public Library’s Parkchester Branch will host a special Pride Month screening of the award-winning short film Elijah on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the library’s Meeting Room. The screening will be followed by a Q&A discussion with the film’s director, Razid Season.
Produced in partnership with Image Maker Films, a Queens-based nonprofit organization, Elijah tells a powerful New York story of family, faith, identity, and acceptance. The film features Bronx talent, including lead actor Ajaz Alam and supporting actor Devon Slotnick, both of whom are from the Bronx.
Elijah follows a Bengali Muslim taxi driver whose pursuit of the American Dream is challenged by financial hardship, discrimination, and the struggles facing New York City’s taxi industry. At the same time, he must confront a deeply personal family crisis when his child, Shoshi, seeks to live authentically as a transgender man within a conservative immigrant community.
Through themes of unconditional love, compassion, and personal transformation, Elijah explores the courage required to challenge long-held beliefs and support those closest to us. The film has received recognition for its sensitive portrayal of transgender identity, immigrant family dynamics, and the…
ENVIRONMENT
NEWS
Jessia Noel Cadiz On Native Bees, Biodiversity & New York City’s Green Spaces
By Jonas BronckNew York City Department Of Buildings Audit Finds Weak Climate Law Oversight
By Jonas BronckNew Yorkers Urged To Take Precautions As Life-Threatening Cold Continues
By Jonas BronckCRIME
& PUNISHMENT
Artist Robert Wyland Sues FIFA For $25 Million After Iconic Dallas Mural Was Destroyed
By Jonas BronckJonathan Pettigrew, 41, Murdered
By Jonas BronckSymphony Wilson, 14, Missing
By Jonas BronckNY State Attorney General James’ Office Of Special Investigation: Report On Death Of Samuel Williams
By Jonas BronckNYC Correction Officer, Jasmin Padua, 45, Arrested
By Jonas BronckNYPD Police Officer, Jonathan Varela, 27, Arrested
By Jonas BronckINFRASTRUCTURE
NEWS
NOTABLE
PERSONS
Street Renaming Petition To Honor Mario D’Agostino
Mario D’Agostino, who passed away June 14, 2020, was a true leader in his community in the Bronx and left his mark on the neighborhood and everyone, who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Mario was an honorable man, who changed people’s lives with his beautiful mind, strong work ethic, positive outlook on life and investing in his favorite part of New York City, the Bronx.
Brenda Jimenez Wins Four Silver & Bronze Stevie ® Awards For Women In Business In 2020
Brenda Jimenez, a Bronx native, has been named the winner of four Stevie ® Awards in the 17th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business including two silver awards and two bronze awards.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and the companies they run– worldwide. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world’s premier business awards.
More than 1,500 entries were submitted this year…
Op-Eds
ART
NEWS
EDUCATION
NEWS
30 Years Of Opening Doors: BCC’s CLIP Program Celebrates Milestone Anniversary
Bronx Community College (BCC) recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of its CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP), recognizing three decades of helping immigrant and multilingual…
Education Through Music’s 2026 Gala Raises Record Funds To Expand Music Programs In NYC Schools
The energy inside the historic 583 Park Avenue was absolutely electric as Education Through Music (ETM) hosted its annual flagship event, the 2026…
buildOn Founder Jim Ziolkowski To Address Fordham Gabelli School Of Business 2026 Graduates
On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Jim Ziolkowski, founder, president, and CEO of buildOn, will address members of the Class of 2026, their families, and…
ENTERTAINMENT
REEL
NYPL Parkchester Branch Hosts Pride Month Screening Of Elijah
KHCC To Host 13th Annual Neighborhood Festival In The Bronx
Education Through Music’s 2026 Gala Raises Record Funds To Expand Music Programs In NYC Schools
Bulgaria Celebrates As Dara Wins Eurovision 2026 In Historic Triumph For The Nation
New Owner At The New Victory Theater
Nightlife Redefined: Discovering Austin Strip Club Highlights
The New Victory Theater Presents New Owner, A Wistful & Wordless Journey From A Dog’s Point Of View
Bronx Small Businesses Are Quietly Reshaping The Local Economy
ENTERTAINMENT
NEWS
Today, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced The Peninsula in the Bronx has been selected as the second site for the City’s municipal grocery store program. The 20,000-square-foot store in Hunts Point is expected to open in 2027 and serve as an economic anchor for the South Bronx community.
“Working families in the Bronx have been forced to pay the price for a city that keeps getting more expensive while government looks the other way. That has to change. Our administration is putting communities like Hunts Point at the center of our work to address the affordability crisis,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Making sure every New Yorker can buy fresh, affordable groceries in their own neighborhood is a key part of our affordability agenda. We are proud to begin this work in the South Bronx and remain committed to opening a store in every borough before the end of our first term.”
“No family in the Bronx should have to choose between rent and groceries,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “This summer, we will issue a request for proposals to bring in operators who meet our affordability standards, and we will have a store open in Hunts Point by 2027. This is what public investment looks like when it is done right — government setting the terms, holding to a timeline, and making sure the benefits reach the families who need them most.”
Last month, the administration announced La Marqueta in East Harlem as the first site selected for the municipal grocery store program. The Mamdani administration plans to open one store in each borough by the end of the Mayor’s first term.
Mayor Mamdani…
MORE ARTICLES IN THIS CATEGORY
BUSINESS
NEWS
NYC Secures $1.8M For Workers Under Fair Workweek & Protected Time Off Laws
Today, over YouTube Live while eating a Crunchwrap Supreme, Mayor Zоhran Mamdani announced the filing of an…
Lawmakers, Legal Services Providers & Bar Leaders Urge Full Support Of IOLA Fund
Lawmakers, civil legal services providers, bar association leaders, and advocates gathered today at the New York State Capitol to…
7 Smart Financial Habits That Help City Residents Stay Ahead Of Their Bills
Living in a major city like New York comes with endless opportunities—vibrant culture, diverse communities, and career…
NYC Aging Hosts Second Annual Talent Connect Hiring Hall
The NYC Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) hosted its second annual Talent Connect Hiring Hall on…
SBA Bans Foreign Nationals From Accessing SBA-backed Loans
Today, in the effort to prioritize American job creators, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) issued…
SPORT NEWS
Robert Wyland, the renowned marine artist, founder of the Wyland Foundation, has filed a 25 million dollar lawsuit against FIFA after his iconic Ocean Life mural in Dallas was painted over without any notice. The massive artwork, part of Wyland’s famous Whaling Walls series, had stood proudly for nearly three decades. It served as a beloved landmark that reminded generations of the beauty and fragility of ocean life. Its sudden erasure ahead of the 2026 World Cup has sparked widespread outrage among residents, art advocates, and conservationists who viewed the mural as a cultural treasure.
This is not merely a dispute over a wall painting. It represents a deeper conflict between corporate interests preparing for a global sporting event and the value of public art that belongs to the community. Wyland and his foundation were never consulted or notified before the mural was covered. The artist learned about the destruction of his work through media reports and public backlash. His lawsuit seeks justice not only for financial compensation but for the principle that significant public artworks should not be erased on a whim.
The Mural That Defined A Community For Nearly Thirty Years
Painted in 1999, “Ocean Life” was one of the most prominent pieces in Wyland’s Whaling Walls series. These large-scale murals, created around the world, aimed to raise awareness about…





































