Man Charged With Shoplifting From CVS, Carjacking Woman In East Rockaway
EAST ROCKAWAY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A man was charged this week with shoplifting numerous items from a CVS drugstore in East Rockaway, Long Island, and carjacking a woman to make his getaway.
Alexander Wachmyanin, 50, address unknown, was arrested Sunday afternoon in Hempstead, according to Nassau County police. He was charged with two counts each of robbery and grand larceny, and three counts of petit larceny.
Wachmyanin was arraigned in Nassau County First District Court in Hempstead on Monday, police said.
The alleged crime spree happened around 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, police said. A man was seen in the CVS at 488 Ocean Ave. taking assorted store merchandise and bolting without paying, police said.
He took $400 worth of merchandise from the store, detectives said at the time.
The store manager and another employee chased the suspect down Prospect Avenue, and they got the stolen items back after a brief struggle, police said. But the suspect kept up his attempt to flee, and carjacked a woman to make a getaway, police said.
CBS2's Jennifer McLogan talked with the parents of the 23-year-old woman, who was getting ready for class at Molloy College when the suspect allegedly shoved her to the ground and jumped in behind the wheel.
The woman's chilling screams were caught on the family's home security camera, according to her father, Wayne Mulato. Good Samaritans joined pursuing clerks the CVS in an effort to protect the victim and thwart the violent crime.
But instead, the driver accelerated over the lawn, driving recklessly through the neighborhood streets fleeing police. The victim's cellphone, Michael Kors purse, and schoolbooks were all in the carjacked vehicle, McLogan reported.
Another man was arrested and charged in connection with the crime spree four days after it happened, police said. He was also charged in two other shoplifting incidents at other CVS locations, police said.
But Wachmyanin was charged, and charges against the other man were dropped, this past weekend, police said. The other man had been charged based on numerous witness identifications, police said.
