Inwood family harassed by more than 150 fake 911 calls grateful for arrest, fears retaliation

NEW YORK, NY — A Manhattan family expressed relief Monday after fire marshals arrested a prankster for making more than 150 calls to 911 to report fake fires and gunshots at their home.

“It has been a lot of problems for us,” said Mamadou Sy. “This should not happen to anyone in New York City.”

For nearly two years, police and firefighters responded to the Sy family’s apartment at the Dyckman Houses in Inwood more than over 150 times – often in the middle of the night – on these false alarms.

In recent months, emergency responders had shown up to the Sy family’s home sometimes twice a day.

The frustrated family asked the Daily News to help, and their story was published last month.

The NYPD and FDNY investigations were stepped up after the News made inquiries .

Last Friday, fire marshals arrested 30-year old Jesus Leon Jr. and charged him with numerous counts of falsely reporting an incident and reckless endangerment.

Leon lives in the apartment below the Sy family’s. His mother, Alejandra Cordero, 57, came to his defense.

“My son is a sick boy,” she sniffled, citing various medical issues. “I want him out of jail. He is no criminal.”

She claimed Leon started making the calls because he was fed up with a leak in their bathroom for which he blamed the Sy family.

But both Mamadou and Assetou Sy said they have never met Leon or Cordero. Unnerved, the couple say they now want to move, fearing retaliation.

Neighbors added that Cordero and Leon have long been problem tenants. One tenant said similar 911 prank calls were made about her apartment.

“The whole floor complains about them,” said Margaret (Dee Dee) Thomas, a member of the Dyckman Houses tenant’s association. “They’re crazy.”

During the ordeal, the Sy family had reached out to State Assemblyman Guillermo Linares to help expedite the investigation.

On Monday, Linares praised the fire marshals and police for for their work.

“This arrest finally brings peace to this family and sends a strong message to anyone who attempts to do this kind of harm,” he said during a news conference.

He urged other New Yorkers facing harassment to come forward to seek help.

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