Locals arrested for kidnapping
Published on November 18th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - The Stoneham Police Department assisted Brookline police in the arrest of two Vietnamese brothers on Pine Street, Tuesday morning.
Lacnuygen, 21, and Kykhoa, 18, Phan, both residents of 67 Pine Street in Stoneham were arrested after warrants were sought by Brookline police for a break-in which occurred on Halloween night.
Brookline Detective Tom O'Leary told the Independent that the brothers and two other men are believed to have entered an 83-year-old woman's home in Brookline, shot her with a taser gun and held her and a youth hostage while robbing the home.
Brookline police were also successful in apprehending East Boston resident Vinh Dang, 17, and Wei Zhou, 19, of South Boston, the other two suspects in the crime.
According to O'Leary, all four will be charged with home invasion, kidnapping, larceny over $250 and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
"It was an Asian on Asian crime," he said of the October 31 assault of an elderly Vietnamese woman. "She (the victim) was more traumatized than injured physically. She's doing as well as can be expected."
O'Leary explained that the investigation leading to the arrest of the four individuals began when a phone call was traced from the victim's home to a Waltham residence. In the ensuing two and a half weeks, Brookline police interviewed ten people, he said, and arrived at the names of the four suspects.
In addition to the four individuals who were arrested, O'Leary said charges against the recipient of the call in Waltham could be pending.
Of early reports that the suspects were members of a Vietnamese gang, O'Leary said, "We haven't found a real gang affiliate as of yet."
The detective explained that the four youths are said to have broken into the elderly woman's home and shot her with the taser upon their encounter. She and a youth who were residing in the home were held against their will while the four ransacked the residence, taking an undisclosed amount of cash and other property.
Stoneham police assisted the Brookline Police Department in the arrest of the two Stoneham residents on Tuesday morning and both were later transported to the Brookline Police Station for questioning.
In other Stoneham police news, officers arrested Summer Street resident Michael Lava, 28, on Monday after a house break on Gould Street.
According to Stoneham Police Detective John Leccese, a Gould Street resident witnessed a man at his neighbor's front door attempting to gain entrance. The witness is then said to have seen the man go to the rear of the property.
At this time, the resident went to the owner's other home on Gould Street and told the man about the possible break-in.
Leccese said the owner went to his home at 48 Gould Street and encountered the would-be burglar in the bathroom. The suspect is then said to have become aggressive with the owner before both fled the scene through the back door. Lava is alleged to have fled the area in a red Toyota Camry.
According to Stoneham police, Lava was traced to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital where he was receiving drug-related treatment. Police apprehended the suspect and searched his person and his vehicle. Upon inspection, a diamond ring, an onyx ring and a bottle of prescription medication were discovered and were traced to another house break on Forest Street.
Police have charged Lava with breaking and entering, receiving stolen property and possession of a narcotic.
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