by Jerry Burke
Police say the victim was driving his car southbound on Woodfield Road a few minutes before 6 p.m. when a black, four-door Japanese vehicle pulled up alongside him. The driver, described only as a Hispanic female, then passed the victim and cut him off, forcing him over to the side of the road.
After pulling over, the victim saw the black car stop, and three males exited the car armed with baseball bats. The victim could only describe one suspect, a Hispanic male, about 5-feet-5 and with a bald head. Police say the bald suspect approached the victim's car on the driver's side while the other two crept up on the other side. The bald suspect then struck the back door window with his bat, shattering the glass.
The victim attempted to flee the vehicle but was struck once in the lower back with the bat. With the driver disabled, the three men got into the victim's car and drove off, heading southbound on Woodfield Road with the suspect's vehicle following behind.
Fifth Squad Police Officers found the victim's car abandoned a short while later on the corner of Hempstead Gardens Drive and Cedar Street in West Hempstead. With the investigation continuing, police have released neither the victim's name nor the condition of the vehicle. The victim was, however, well enough to speak to police soon after the incident.
Detectives are asking anyone with information -- especially anyone along the brief route the suspects took -- to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
