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Newspaper Publisher Cursed At and Threatened Officer, DA Says

By Katie Honan | September 22, 2014 2:07pm
 The publisher of two Queens newspapers was arrested Thursday night after a dispute with a neighbor.
The publisher of two Queens newspapers was arrested Thursday night after a dispute with a neighbor.
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HOWARD BEACH — A publisher of weekly newspapers in Queens was arrested Thursday following a dust-up with a neighbor and asked a police officer "do you know who the f--k I am?" as he tried to put her in cuffs, according to the criminal complaint. 

Police from the 106th Precinct were called to Lahn Street after Patricia Adams and the neighbor, who have had a long-simmering feud, fought over garbage cans on Sept. 18 around 7 p.m., according to Adams and the Queens District Attorney's office.

Adams, 55 — publisher of The Forum newspapers and co-publisher of The Rockaway Beat — became “irate” when the police officer arrived, according to the criminal complaint.

After the officer tried to speak to her and calm her down, she began yelling, cursing and screaming, the DA’s office said.

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“Do you know who the f--- I am? I run The Forum, I’m going to have your job, f--- you,” she yelled, according to court documents.

When the police officer tried to place her in handcuffs, she allegedly flailed her arms, the complaint said.

A source said she went on a three-minute tirade against the police officers, continuing to curse at them as they tried to calm her.

She allegedly told them she had their commanding officer on speed dial and asked more than once, "Do you know who I am?"

Adams was eventually detained and charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to the DA’s office.

She was arraigned Sept. 19 and the case was slated to be dismissed if she avoids future run-ins with the law.

Adams, who has been publisher of the Howard Beach-based paper for two decades, denies the allegations and said the dust-up stemmed from a months-long dispute with her next-door neighbor.

“This situation is not just Thursday night. There was an altercation with a neighbor and there was a problem with the police,” she said. The fighting has stemmed from a dispute over property lines and has escalated, she said. 

“This didn't start on Thursday night — Thursday night was the head.”

The argument on Sept. 18 started after she drove over garbage pails her neighbor placed in front of her car, she said.

Adams said she did yell, but denied threatening the police officer or cursing.

She said she told the officer “I am not a thug, and I don’t appreciate the way you’re speaking with me.

"I am Pat Adams. I own the community newspaper and I have an outstanding relationship with the police precinct.”

The neighbor involved in the dispute could not immediately be reached, but no charges were filed against him.