Crime & Safety

Crimes Nearby: Sexual Assault Arrest, Taxi Driver Robbed and Burglaries

A look at crimes in the towns surrounding Mineola.

The following arrest information was supplied by several local police departments. A criminal charge is only an accusation and does not indicate convictions.

Albertson

A fire occurred on January 24 at 6:15 p.m. in Albertson. According to police, a Third Precinct patrol officer smelled smoke and located a fire at a 14 unit town house complex located at 153 I.U. Willets Road. The residents were evacuated and at least four units were destroyed. Red Cross responded to assist residents getting relocated. The Albertson Fire Department, assisted by at least 14 other fire departments, was able to contain the fire. No injuries reported at this time.  The investigation is ongoing. The fire was rekindled at about 2:56 a.m. on January 25 before being extinguished again.

Roslyn Heights

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A multiple-car accident occurred on the westbound side of the Long Island Expressway in the area of Glen Cove Road on January 21 at 5:24 p.m. Numerous emergency vehicles responded to the location.

A fire occurred in the bedroom of a home at 178 Westwood Circle at 6:18 p.m. on January 25. The fire was contained at 6:32 p.m.

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Westbury

A fire occurred at a building at 956 Brush Hollow Road on January 20 at 5:18 p.m. It was placed under control at 5:27 p.m.

Police arrested two men for a burglary that occurred in Westbury on Friday, January 10 at 4 a.m. According to detectives, a 64 year old female victim noticed a rear basement door and window had been opened at her Roxbury Road residence. Missing from the kitchen was her pocketbook, two iPhones, iPad, and car keys. It was further noticed that her 2007 Acura was also missing from the driveway. Detectives later were able to locate the victims vehicle and iPhone to the address where Demorris Baity, 18, resides. Baity was placed into police custody without further incident. The female victim advised detectives that her Bank of America card had also been used without her knowledge. A subsequent investigation revealed that Rockey White, 19, of New Cassel along with Baity did purchase merchandise from a 7-Eleven Store located at 635 Powells Lane. On January 23, White surrendered himself at the Third Precinct where he was placed into custody by officers without incident. Baity is charged with second degree burglary and third degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was arraigned on Saturday January 11 in First District Court in Hempstead. White is charged with second degree burglary, fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property, and third degree identity theft. He was arraigned on January 24 at First District Court in Hempstead. 

Old Westbury

A car accident occurred on the westbound side of the Long Island Expressway between exits 39 and 40 on January 25 at 1:53 a.m. Two westbound lanes were closed.

Woodbury

A West Babylon man was arrested on January 23 at 5:45 p.m. in Woodbury for Burglaries that occurred in South Farmingdale. According to detectives, on Tuesday, January 14 Robert David Avena, 19, used a brick to break the rear sliding glass door of a home located on Radcliff Avenue.  He entered the home and removed a pocketbook and a mans watch. After being unable to sell the items he disposed of them in a nearby pond. On January 16 he allegedly entered a Heisser Place residence and removed a Hewlett Packard Laptop and an Apple iPod touch. He then sold the items to a pawn shop. A subsequent investigation by Second Squad detectives led to the recovery of the items and the arrest of Avena who surrendered on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at the Second Precinct. The proceeds from the first burglary were not recovered. Avena is charged with two counts of second degree burglary and fourth degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was arraigned on January 24 at First District Court in Hempstead.

Hicksville

A heavy water condition with active sprinkler heads occurred at the Hicksville Fire Department at 1 Briggs St. on January 22 at 7:47 p.m. About one inch of water was present on the second floor from a popped sprinkler head. 

Police have arrested James A. Catanzano, 53, of Glen Cove in connection with an alleged Sexual Abuse that occurred in Hicksville on Monday, January 6, 2014 at 7:03 p.m. He allegedly entered the Red Bell Spa at 107 Newbridge Road and asked for a massage. When the female victim (age unknown) entered the room Catanzano was completely exposed. He eventually lay down on the table and the victim covered him with a sheet. The massage began and Catanzano allegedly grabbed the victim’s right arm in an attempt to have her touch him in a sexual manner. The victim backed away from the table and the subject became agitated. The subject got off the table and backed the victim into a corner where a struggle ensued. He then touched her in an inappropriate sexual manner. The victim was able to leave the room and notify police. According to detectives Catanzano then fled the scene by unknown means. No injuries were reported. He is charged with first degree sexual abuse and was arraigned on January 23 at First District Court in Hempstead.

Franklin Square

A fire occurred in the basement walls of a two-story private home at 1145 Park Ave. at 4:59 p.m. on January 23.

Floral Park

A fire occurred in a residential home at 263 Whittier Ave. at 7:34 p.m. on January 23.

A 79-year old female pedestrian was struck at Tulip Avenue and Caroline Place at 12:30 p.m. on January 25 by a car traveling to Winthrop University Hospital via the Floral Park Fire Department.

Garden City

On January 17 a taxi driver reports that he picked up a man at the Mineola station. He requested to be driven to Flower Road. When the taxi arrived at the location, the suspect placed a silver hand gun on his lap and demanded the driver’s money. The driver ran from the vehicle after giving the subject $100, leaving the car keys in the vehicle. The driver ran to Roosevelt Field Mall where he called the police. Officers searched the area and located the vehicle on Huntington Road. The suspect was not located. Garden City and Nassau County police are continuing the investigation. The suspect is described as a black man in his 30s wearing a black knit hat and a black P-Coat.

West Hempstead

Nassau County police are searching for the two men responsible for robbing a West Hempstead 7-Eleven at gunpoint Friday. According to cops, at 12:10 a.m., two white men entered 7-Eleven at 314 Hempstead Ave. The first man was about 5-foot-7, average build wearing dark clothing, a black mask and latex gloves. The second man fit the same description.


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