By Danny Teigman
The victim, a 23 woman, described the incident as "unbelievably terrifying" and cautioned anyone to think twice when walking alone. "I'm still shaken up about it," she said. The woman declined to be identified.
According to the victim, she said she was walking home from the Lynbrook train station toward Peninsula Boulevard at about 1:30 a.m. when she was approached from behind by a man who punched her repeatedly in the face, and then stole her pocketbook.
Detective Fred Fusswinkel of the Lynbrook Police Department said that Nash had been waiting by the station, looking for potential targets, and had been questioned earlier by Lynbrook Detective William Straub because he appeared suspicious.
Nassau County 5th Squad Detective Jason Gaertner was on his way home from work, according to the police, when he saw Nash running north on Endview Avenue toward the Lynbrook fountain at Sunrise Highway and Peninsula Boulevard, carrying the handbag. "I knew that something wasn't right, something just didn't fit, seeing a male at 1:30 a.m. running down the street with a pocketbook in his hand," Gaertner said.
According to 5th Squad Detective Steven Holmes, Nash jumped on a bicycle near the fountain and pedaled north across Sunrise Highway. Gaertner followed him on foot, but when he identified himself as a detective, Nash picked up speed and headed toward the parking lot of Our Lady of Peace Church on Peninsula Boulevard, where he fled into some bushes.
Gaertner pursued Nash through two residences' backyards as he alerting Lynbrook police by cell phone. The police told Gaertner that a robbery had just taken place, and that an ambulance was coming to the aid of the victim, who had reported her purse being stolen. Nassau County Emergency Services and a K-9 police officer with a police dog also responded. Lacking a bulletproof vest, Gaertner chose not to engage Nash, but with the help of about 15 officers from the two departments, he said, he established a perimeter to corner him.
During the pursuit, the police dog, Duke, recovered the victim's handbag and Nash's jacket. Lynbrook police officers Eric Bruen and Brian Palladino arrested Nash on Neiman Ave., two houses down from the church.
Fusswinkel described the rapid police response as "an example of excellent police work and an excellent demonstration of inter-agency cooperation.
"[This is] another example of our patrol officers paying increased attention to areas where there is a potential for robberies to occur," Fusswinkel added.
"It just goes to show you that crime does happen in the middle of the night," Gaertner said. "It's nice that we have somebody off the street who doesn't deserve to be out there."
The victim was brought to Mercy Hospital Medical Center, were she was treated for multiple lacerations, contusions and swelling in her right eye, cheek and mouth, the report said. Nash was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Nov. 17 on one count of second-degree robbery and one count of second-degree assault.
"It was very relieving to hear that he was caught and that justice will be served," the victim said. "You take it for granted where you live, but it can happen anywhere."
Comments about this story? DTeigman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 246
