Nassau Hardware Store Robbed; Officer Hurt In Arrest: Police

LEVITTOWN, NY — A Hempstead man has been arrested after police said he robbed a home improvement store in Levittown.

Victor Rodriguez, 46, of Peter Street, entered the store around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on Hempstead Turnpike, took items off shelves and left without paying, pushing a loss prevention officer on his way out, police said.

Police officers arrested him with the help of a police dog team a short distance away from the store.

Rodriguez and an officer were taken to a hospital for injuries suffered during his arrest, police said. He faces felony charges of 3rd-degree robbery and 4th-degree grand larceny. Under the state's new bail reform law, a judge cannot set cash bail conditions for his release.

Rodriguez had multiple open warrants, police said. He will appear in court when he is medically cleared.