Police nab ‘brazen’ robbery suspect

Two Nassau County police officers ran down and tackled an armed suspect who officials believe was responsible for a string of four robberies in Bellmore-Merrick within seven hours June 5 and 6.

Thomas Krumpter, Nassau’s acting police commissioner, had high praise for the officers –– Ronald Curaba and Joseph Laundrie –– during a news conference at police headquarters in Mineola on Monday afternoon.

Curaba, who made the tackle with assistance from Laundrie, has been on the force for a year. Laundrie graduated from the police academy on May 31.

Krumpter called the young officers’ work “great.”

Curaba and Laundrie were among the many officers who swarmed Bellmore-Merrick, between Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road, after it became apparent that police had a fast-moving robbery spree on their hands. At the news conference, Curaba still had mud on his pants from the tackle.

Police charged Gerrod Rollerson, of Hempstead, with robbing the 7-Eleven at Merrick Road and Babylon Turnpike in Merrick. Krumpter said he believed Rollerson also likely committed three other robberies.

The spree started at the Valero gas station at 2017 Sunrise Highway in Bellmore at 9:53 p.m. on Sunday. The station was hit again at 4:34 a.m. on Monday, followed by the BP gas station at Merrick and Newbridge roads in Bellmore at 4:46 a.m. and the 7-Eleven at 4:58 a.m.

“I believe he’s responsible for all four robberies,” Krumpter said of Rollerson, adding, “This is very brazen.”

According to the commissioner, Rollerson needed cash to pay child support to his girlfriend. He was previously charged with marijuana distribution and assault, Krumpter said.

In addition to robbery, Rollerson faces a weapon possession charge. The 9-millimeter that he had tucked in his front pants was illegal, Krumpter said.

Information on Rollerson’s legal representation was unavailable at press time.

Curaba spotted Rollerson on Harvard Avenue in Merrick, three blocks north of the convenience store, shortly after the 7-Eleven robbery. He was ordered to stop. That’s when he took off. Curaba pursued the suspect with help from Laundrie, Krumpter said. Within minutes, the quiet residential block was full of police cars, according to a witness.

“They did have to tackle the subject,” Krumpter said. “He did resist the arrest … We’re very proud of these two officers.

“There were a lot of cops in the area,” the commissioner said in a later interview. “We were already flooding the area.”

At 8 a.m. on Monday, the 7-Eleven was cordoned off. Laundrie was out front, keeping watch. Yellow police tape blocked the convenience store’s two entrances, and no one was allowed in. A police SUV was parked outside the 7-Eleven, and a second one was down the street.

At press time, police had charged Rollerson only with the 7-Eleven robbery, saying that they were examining video footage of the other three robberies before issuing further charges. They did not yet have enough evidence, they said, to charge him with the other robberies.

Police said Rollerson was “armed with a handgun and entered” the Valero and BP stations and the 7-Eleven.

In a release early Monday, police described the first Valero robbery, saying that a man approached the counter armed with a black-and-silver handgun and demanded money from a 31-year-old male victim on Sunday night. He complied, and the robber grabbed an undisclosed amount of cash. A customer then entered the store, and the suspect ran south on Centre Avenue toward Royle Street. No injuries were reported.

Steve Rhoads, the Nassau County legislator who represents Bellmore-Merrick, said Curaba and Laundrie “did a great job … We’re very appreciative for the quick action of the Nassau County Police Department, who are out protecting us 24 hours a day.

“We can provide them with the best training and equipment,” he continued, “but ultimately this came down to solid police work and doing the right thing at the right time.”