Another Man Arrested for East Rockaway CVS Shoplifting and Car Stealing to Flee the Scene

LongIsland.com

Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a Robbery that occurred on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 3:00 pm in East Rockaway.

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Update - June 30, 2015 - The Fourth Squad reports the arrest of defendant Alexander Wachmyanin, 50, no known address for the above crimes.  According to detectives, upon receiving forensic evidence and during a continued investigation the defendant was arrested on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at 12:46 p.m. in front of 99 Terrace Avenue in Hempstead.  Wachmyanin is being charged with two (2) counts of Robbery 2nd degree, two (2) counts of Grand Larceny and three (3) counts of Petit Larceny.  Wachmyanin was arraigned on Monday, 06/29/15 in First District Court, Hempstead.

The Nassau County District Attorney’s office dropped all charges against initial subject David Melis.  Melis had been charged based on numerous witness identifications.

The original press release and update are below.

Update - April 27, 2015 - The Fourth Squad reports the arrest of defendant David Melis, 59, of Holtsville for the below crime.  The defendant is charged with Robbery 2nd degree, Robbery 3rd degree and Petit Larceny.  Defendant Melis is additionally being charged with Grand Larceny 4th degree and two (2) counts of Petit Larceny for incidents that occurred at other CVS locations on April 14, 2015.  Melis was arraigned on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at First District Court, Hempstead.

Below is the original release.

East Rockaway, NY - April 23rd, 2015 - Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a Robbery that occurred on Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 3:00 pm in East Rockaway.

According to detectives, a male white subject, while inside CVS, 488 Ocean Avenue, was observed shoplifting assorted store merchandise. After leaving the store without paying, the store manager, assisted by another employee, chased the subject westbound on Prospect Avenue. A brief struggle ensued over the stolen property which was eventually recovered by the store manager. The subject, who continued to flee, was again followed on Prospect Avenue.

He confronted a female victim who was about to enter her running car, pushed her out of the way and jumped into the vehicle. Other witnesses, who observed what had transpired, ran to her aide and attempted to pull him from the car. The subject then put the car into reverse, struck a parked vehicle directly behind him and then went forward, driving up onto and across the victim’s lawn. He continued and fled eastbound in the victim’s gray 2010 Toyota Corolla, NY registration EVW1600, which has yet to be recovered.

The subject was described as being approximately 6’ tall with an average build. He has brown hair and was wearing eyeglasses, a blue wind breaker and blue jeans.

There were no reported injuries reported as a result of this incident and detectives request anyone with information regarding the Robbery to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.