Lt. Holly Wasilewski spotted a familiar face behind the wheel of a car. She knew he was a gang leader — and didn’t have a license.
She pulled over “Pizzy,” the alleged leader of the Grape Street Crips gang — and ended up catching his passenger, who fled into the cemetery with a gun and crack, according to police.
The encounter began at about 1:40 p.m. Thursday.
Wasilewski (pictured) was in her cruiser at Davenport Avenue and Orchard Street. She spotted “Pizzy” behind the wheel of a car. She recognized him as the purported leader of the Grape Street Crips, a faction of the national drug-dealing street gang.
“I like to know my gang members,” Wasilewski said. There are a couple who have suspended licenses, so she stops them when they roll through the Hill neighborhood, where she’s the top cop.
“I know the car. I know the plate. It’s memorized in my head,” Wasilewski said.
Pizzy was arrested in October on several warrants related to drug-dealing. His girlfriend denied that he’s in the gang: Click here for an Independent story on his arrest.
Wasilewski followed the car Thursday to Columbus Avenue and the Ella Grasso Boulevard. Pizzy saw her behind him.
“He knew it was me,” she said.
When the car was stopped at the light, Pizzy’s passenger jumped out, she said. The passenger was wearing a jacket. He looked “heavy on one side,” like he might have a weapon, she said.
“Stop him,” she told several of her officers whom she’d called for backup. They followed the passenger on foot, while Wasileski stayed with the car.
The man fled into the St. Bernard’s Cemetery, which occupies a large swath of the Hill. Three cops — Elsa Berrios, Joseph Roberts and Darryl Cargill — went after him. Along the way, they saw him throw a gun on the ground, Wasilewski said. The gun, which was wrapped in a plastic bag, turned out to be stolen, she said.
The cops cornered the suspect. He surrendered. Police found 5.9 grams of crack and a couple grams of marijuana on his person, Wasilewski said.
The suspect, who’s 22, is also a member of the Grape Street Crips gang, Wasilewski said. He was arrested on gun and drug charges.
Pizzy was charged with driving without a license and was released on a promise to appear.
Nice work! Thanks Lt.