by Jerry Burke
The result: one arrest, one additional suspect still on the lam, $1,100 stolen and a woman recovering from two shots in the leg.
Fifth Precinct detectives say the robbery took place around 4:15 p.m. Three women, ages 43, 40 and 37, were inside room 418 with Anthony McCready of Uniondale when the gunman knocked on the door. Police say the women refused to open the door. At that point, according to police, McCready allegedly grabbed one of the women by the hair and forced her to the ground. He then opened the door, letting in a man wearing a mask and holding a gun.
Police say the gunman ordered everyone in the room to get on the floor. The victims refused, with one of them tearing the mask off the suspect. Police say the women recognized the gunman as an acquaintance of McCready's.
Upon being recognized, the gunman fired twice into the leg of the woman who unmasked him. Taking $1,100 in cash with him, the suspect fled the room. Police say McCready also fled, but unlike the gunman, he remained in the hotel's foyer.
Fifth Precinct police officer Daniel Dowsett responded to the call soon afterward, observed McCready acting very agitated and detained him for further investigation. After the shooting victim -- who was transported to Winthrop University Medical Center in Mineola, treated and later released -- was attended to, McCready was questioned.
In the course of the investigation, police determined that McCready was in cahoots with the suspect, and he was arrested. Police also found a small quantity of cocaine in his possession. He was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, one count of first-degree assault and one count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Police are still investigating the incident, and throughly examining the hotel's surveillance tapes. They have not disclosed any information regarding the identify of the shooter.
This was the second felony arrest made in the Courtesy in as many months. On Sept. 13, two men were arrested and charged with the rape of two 16-year-old girls at the hotel. Both are awaiting trial.
