East Meadow Woman Robbed in Front of Home

An Islip Terrace man was arrested for a robbery outside an East Meadow home late Friday afternoon.

According to detectives, a 61-year-old woman had just returned to her Norman Drive home when she was confronted by a white male subject who asked if she needed help carrying packages. When the victim refused his assistance, the subject demanded her pocketbook. After a brief struggle to retain her property, the subject pulled the pocketbook off the victim’s shoulder, police said.

According to police, the subject then fled in a 2011 Chevrolet Malibu. First Precinct plainclothes officers spotted the vehicle on Merrick Avenue and followed him onto the Southern State Parkway heading westbound.

Police were able to stop the suspect on the parkway, however, he then fled on foot across the eastbound lanes of traffic. After a brief foot pursuit and struggle with police, the suspect was eventually placed under arrest.

The victim suffered no injuries as a result of this incident.

The subject is identified as Rick Scocozza, 48. He is charged with Robbery 3rd Degree and Resisting Arrest. He will be arraigned on Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.