Fugitive Captured and Charged with Nassau Assault and Robbery: Police

A Far Rockaway man who fled the state was arrested Wednesday and charged with an assault and robbery that happened in Lawrence over the summer, police said.

According to detectives, on Thursday, July 14, a 21-year-old man was in the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Cemetery in Lawrence with acquaintances when an argument started. Police say Saul Rodriguez, 19, of Wanser Avenue, Inwood, and Franklin Acosta, 18, of Caffrey Avenue, Far Rockaway, began punching and kicking the man. The fight escalated, and police say and both suspects stabbed the man, causing non-life threatening injuries to his hand and shoulder. Then, police say the two took the man's cell phone before fleeing the scene. The man was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Rodriguez was located on Friday, July 16 at 11:35 p.m. and placed under arrest without incident.

Acosta fled the state in an attempt to avoid arrest, police said. On Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 12:30 p.m., the Gang Investigations Squad, Nassau County Police Fugitive Squad and the U.S. Marshals located him in Maryland and placed him under arrest without incident.

Both men are charged with first degree robbery, two count of second degree robbery and second degree assault. Additionally, Acosta was found to have open Nassau County warrants for first degree robbery, second degree robbery and second degree assault from a separate incident. Acosta is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Photo: Nassau County Police Department