Man Indicted After Zip Tying Central Islip Family, Stealing $6K: DA

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — A Wyandanch man was indicted Monday after prosecutors said he entered a Central Islip home, zip-tied multiple family members, pistol-whipped a teenager, and stole $6,000 in cash and jewelry.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe within their own home, and this defendant is alleged to have violated that essential right,” said District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. “This was a violent home invasion robbery. Thanks to the dedicated work of the Suffolk County Police Department getting to the location quickly, no one was seriously hurt. I also applaud K9 handler Police Officer Lawrence and K9 Officer Rafeh for apprehending the defendant when he fled the home. This was a textbook example of good police work.”

On April 8, Beresford Hall, 44, was armed with a handgun when he allegedly ran up to a man while he was opening the front door of a home, according to investigators.

Hall put the handgun in the victim’s face and pushed him into the home, prosecutors said. The man’s girlfriend, who was not home at the time, saw Hall forcibly enter the home through a doorbell notification on her cell phone and called 911, according to prosecutors.

He then forced the man and the man's girlfriend’s 19-year-old and 16-year-old sons to lay on the floor face down, prosecutors said. Hall then zip-tied two of their hands behind their backs, and pistol whipped the 16-year-old boy, Tierney's office said.

Hall continued to steal more than $6,000 in cash and jewelry, a wallet and car keys, prosecutors said. He is also accused of threatening the other occupants of the home, including a 10-year-old and a 4-month-old baby.

When he realized the home was surrounded by police, Hall cut the zip-ties off of the victims, and in doing so, cut their hands with the knife, prosecutors said.

He then allowed all the family members to leave the house one by one before walking out of the home.

Police ordered Hall to place his hands behind his back, however he ran before being apprehended by law enforcement with the assistance of police dog Rafeh.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe within their own home, and this defendant is alleged to have violated that essential right,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This was a violent home invasion robbery. Thanks to the dedicated work of the Suffolk County Police Department getting to the location quickly, no one was seriously hurt. I also applaud K9 handler Police Officer Lawrence and K9 Officer Rafeh for apprehending the defendant when he fled the home. This was a textbook example of good police work.”

At the time this crime occurred, Hall was indicted in Onondaga County for five counts of first-degree robbery, after authorities said he held up an auto parts store, two convenience stores and a gas station in Syracuse, New York.

Hall was also charged in Onondaga County with criminal possession of a weapon, after a loaded hand gun was found when police officers conducted a search of the defendant’s home after the robberies occurred, prosecutors said.

He was released on $200,000 bond.

Those charges are still pending in Onondaga County, officials said.

On Monday, Hall appeared in court on the following charges:

• One count of first-degree robbery, a Class B violent felony;
• One count of first-degree burglary, a Class B violent felony;
• Three counts of second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony;
• Three counts of second-degree unlawful imprisonment, a Class A misdemeanor;
• Three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a Class A misdemeanor; and resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.

The judge ordered Hall held on $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, or $3 million partially
secured bond. He is due back in court May 18.

Patch has reached out to Jeremy Scileppi, Hall's attorney, for comment.