By ANDREW HACKMACK
Police say the suspects only made it a block from the TD Bank when the dye pack exploded in the car. A few hours later, police arrested 25-year-old Joseph Bentvena of Wheeler Avenue in Valley Stream and 18-year-old Luke D'Angio of Merrick Road in Merrick.
According to police, the two men entered the bank at Merrick Road and Central Avenue at about 12:30 p.m. Bentvena returned to the vehicle, police say, while D'Angio handed a teller a note demanding cash. D'Angio left the bank with his proceeds and entered a black Mustang being driven by Bentvena.
The suspects fled eastbound on Merrick Road, according to police, but shortly after the dye pack burst while in D'Angio's jacket. The jacket was thrown out of the vehicle at Hancock Place. Bentvena was arrested outside of his home while D'Angio was found hiding inside his home and taken into custody.
Both were charged with first-degree robbery and arraigned in First District Court on Tuesday. Bentvena was also charged in connection with bank robberies at the Washington Mutual Bank in Hewlett on April 2 and the HSBC Bank in Cedarhurst on April 6.
