Nassau police officer injured after alleged assault in Lawrence

One Nassau police officer was injured after a scuffle with a man following a brief foot pursuit in Lawrence near 6 p.m. on March 12.

William B. Foster, 44, who police said is homeless, was seen entering the Marshalls at 345 Rockaway Turnpike and recognized by a store loss prevention officer from allegedly having committed a previous theft.

When police got to the shopping area known as the Bay Harbour Mall, Foster was outside a Designer Shoe Warehouse and then took off on foot and refused to comply with “multiple verbal commands,” police said.

While trying to arrest Foster, an officer was hurt and taken to an area hospital for treatment and evaluation, police said.

A subsequent investigation found that Foster is allegedly responsible for a robbery on Feb. 6, and two larcenies at the Burlington Coat Factory, in the same shopping center on New Year’s Day and Feb. 12.  

Foster is charged with assault, robbery, two counts of petit larceny and resisting arrest. He will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on March 13.