Police arrest five in Lawrence assault and robbery

Five young men were arrested for the alleged assault and robbery of a 22-year-old man and the assault on his 43-year-old father in Lawrence on May 30.

The younger victim parked his car in front of 254 Lawrence Ave. and was walking to a nearby deli, when he was approached by Christopher Abel-Bay, 16, of Clinton Avenue in Inwood, police said.

Abel-Bay demanded that the man give him items on his person, then joined by the other four, punched and kicked him, according to police.

The man's father came out of the deli to help his son and was beaten unconscious by the five young men, police said.

During the beating, Abel-Bay took the 22-year-old's cell phone from his car, while Marcel Haynes, 16, of Augustina Street of Inwood struck him in the head with a broom stick, according to police.

Abel-Bay was arrested on May 31 and charged with two counts of robbery-first degree, gang assault-second degree, two count of robbery-third degree, criminal mischief-third degree, criminal mischief-fourth degree and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon-fourth degree. He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on June 6.

Haynes was arrested on June 6 and charged with two counts of robbery-first degree, assault-first degree, gang assault-second degree, assault-second degree, criminal mischief-fourth degree and possession of a dangerous weapon-fourth degree. He was arraigned on the same day at First District Court in Hempstead.

Also arrested on May 31 was Nicholas Belen, 18, of Alameda Drive in Inwood, who was charged with two counts of robbery-first degree, gang assault-second degree, assault-second degree, criminal mischief-fourth degree and possession of a dangerous weapon-fourth degree. He was arraigned on June 1 at First District Court in Hempstead.

Ricky McDuffie, 23, was arrested on May 31 and charged with robbery-first degree, two counts of assault-second degree, criminal possession of a weapon-third degree and criminal mischief-fourth degree. He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on May 31.

The fifth defendant is a juvenile, who was arrested on June 15.