Robbery At Walmart; Man Also Violates County Mask Ban: Police

EAST MEADOW, NY — A Roosevelt man was arrested for robbery and violating the county's mask ban transparency act at Walmart in East Meadow, police said.

According to police, Jonathan Hernandez, 33, wore a black ski mask as he entered the store at 8 p.m. on Thursday. He began concealing merchandise in a bag and exited without paying for the items, police said.

Hernandez was confronted by store security, who recovered the merchandise, police said.

Hernandez directly physical threats toward security as he left the scene, police said.

A short time later, Hernandez, still wearing the black ski mask, approached a 47-year-old man in a nearby parking lot on Hempstead Turnpike and demanded his belongings, police said.

When the victim refused to comply, he was threated with physical harm, authorities said.

Hernandez was located by police in the parking lot of another Hempstead Turnpike location. He was arrested without incident.

Hernandez is charged with first-degree robbery, third-degree attempted robbery, two counts of third-degree menacing, two counts of the mask transparency act and petty larceny. He was scheduled for arraignment on Friday.