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Overcast Lynbrook man charged with rape, robbery, burglary
Police seek two others in Hempstead incident
Wiseallah Hightower-Castro, 24, of Starks Place in Lynbrook, was arrested in connection with a rape, robbery and burglary that occurred on January 8 in Hempstead.
According to Third Squad detectives, a 22- year-old male victim went to visit his 47-year-old mother at her home on Grove Street. Also present at the time was a 44-year-old female. While in the upstairs apartment, the male heard a knock at the door and answered it. It was then that, according to police, 6’3” inch, 250 lb. Hightower-Castro, displayed a handgun. Behind him were two other unknown male black subjects, displaying knives. All three subjects then pushed their way into the apartment. The victims’ pockets were then searched by the men, who removed three cell phones and an unknown amount of cash.
Two of the men then took the 44-year-old into the bathroom and sexually assaulted her. The other man then brought the 22-year-old victim to an apartment in the lower portion of the house occupied by two 50 year old female victims. The subject kicked in the door and ordered the victims to lie on the floor. One victim then had her hands tied behind her back. The second victim then began to suffer a seizure. The subject searched the victim’s pockets removing a cell phone and unknown amount of money.
Shortly afterward a 49-year-old female stopped at the house and was confronted by one of the subjects. She was ordered to lie on the floor and a cell phone and unknown amount of money was removed from her pockets. The 47-year-old female managed to escape by jumping out a window. She ran to a neighbor’s house and notified police.
Realizing one of the victims was not in the house, all three subjects entered a black four-door vehicle parked on Grove Street and fled the scene in an unknown direction. The 47, 44 and 50-year-old victims were removed to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Hightower-Castro is being charged with Rape in the first degree, Criminal Sexual Act in the first degree, Robbery in the first degree, Robbery in the second degree, two counts of Burglary in the first degree, Criminal Use of a Firearm in the first degree, Assault in the second degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the third degree. He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Jan. 12.
Detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
