Man Swings Knife During Robbery Of Nassau Store; 3 Arrested: PD

VALLEY STREAM, NY — Three men were placed under arrest for a Wednesday afternoon robbery in Valley Stream, police said.

Two men entered the PetSmart on West Circle Drive. One of the men took a shopping cart filled with merchandise and proceeded to exit the store without making payment, police said.

When an employee confronted them, one of the men pushed the cart, displayed a knife and swung it at the employee before exiting the store, authorities said.

Merchandise was loaded into the trunk of a red Honda that was parked curbside with the third man in the driver’s seat, police said.

They drove the Honda southbound as the employee called 911, police said.

A short time later the vehicle was spotted traveling southbound on Mill Road. Officers activated their emergency lights and stopped the vehicle.

Yusef Britton, 26, David Mclaughlin, 40, and James Williams, 61, were arrested. Williams was in
possession of a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine, police said.

Britton (displayed the knife), Mclaughlin and Williams (drove the vehicle) are charged with first-degree robbery, police said.

Britton has an additional charge of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Williams has an additional charge of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said.

They were scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead.