3 Threatened At Knifepoint In Hamptons, Forced To Get Cash At ATM: PD

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A man threatened three residents, one a juvenile, at knifepoint in East Hampton Wednesday, demanding they drive to an ATM and withdraw cash, police said.

According to East Hampton town police, the incident took place at 6:42 p.m. on Springs Fireplace Road. Darius Z. Petty, 34, who is without a known address, approached the three people, seated in a car, and held a knife to the throat of one passenger, demanding money, police said.

Petty then ordered the trio to drive to a nearby business, where an attempt at a cash withdrawal was unsuccessful; they then drove to a Bank of America on Newtown Lane, where a successful $300 withdrawal was made, police said.

Petty fled with the cash, police said. The three males, including the juvenile, are all East Hampton residents and were not injured, police said.

On Wednesday, plainclothes officers saw Petty walking on Accabonac Road and attempted to arrest him; he fled on foot and was found hiding in an unoccupied vehicle at a nearby residence, police said.

Petty was arrested and charged with four counts of first-degree attempted robbery; three counts of second-degree kidnapping; and one count of first-degree robbery, all felonies, police said.

He was held pending arraignment Thursday at East Hampton Town Justice Court, police said.