By Nicole Falco
According to detectives from the Nassau County Bureau of Special Operations, the suspects, who range in age from 15 to 25, used fear, and in at least one instance a belt, to commit the crimes. And the victims reported that the assailants literally stole the clothes off their backs.
The suspects were all arrested on Oct. 7. Dwayne Chin, 25, of 50 Buffalo St. in Elmont; Paris Pinchback, 17, of 145-16 230 St. in Rosedale; and Kermaro Heywood, 18, of 145-46 239 St. in Springfield Gardens were each charged with one count of first-degree robbery, three counts of second-degree robbery and one count of second-degree assault, and were arraigned in First District Court. Two 15-year-olds, who are not being identified because of their age - one from Rosedale and the other from South Ozone Park - also face multiple robbery charges, and were arraigned in Family Court.
The most recent robbery took place Oct. 3, according to officer Stan Slevinski, crime analyst for the Fifth Precinct. An Elmont girl and a North Valley Stream boy, both 14, were walking at the intersection of Leighton and Creighton roads in Elmont at 5:30 p.m. when, according to police, they were approached by four of the five suspects. Using physical force, the suspects took $7 and a gold chain from the victims, police said.
On Sept. 29, the suspects were allegedly involved in the robbery of another 14-year-old Valley Stream boy as he was riding his bicycle along Guenther Avenue at about 8:50 p.m. In that incident, the victim's watch and T-shirt were stolen.
On Sept. 27, two 14-year-olds, one from North Valley Stream and the other from Elmont, were robbed within two hours of each other, police said. At about 4 p.m., the first victim was walking on Hoffman Avenue in Elmont when, according to police, the suspects struck him with a belt before fleeing with his cell phone in a silver Honda Civic. The victim sustained serious lacerations in the confrontation and required surgery, police said.
Later that afternoon, at about 5:55 p.m., the second victim was confronted as he was walking near the intersection of Elmont Road and Alden Avenue in North Valley Stream. The victim reported that the gray and white Nike sneakers he was wearing were stolen.
The suspects could face additional charges, Slevinski said, as detectives investigate other similar robberies in the community.
Comments about this story? NFalco@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
