Attempted Phone Theft Leads to Slashing at Freeport Train Station: Police

FREEPORT, NY - A Harlem man was arrested for cutting a man with a knife after attempting to steal his cell phone at the Freeport train station on Friday morning.

Jose Rodriguez, 24, while at the station at about 1 a.m., approached a 34-year-old man, asked him for his cell phone and then cut him on the arm with a knife, police said.

A short time later, Rodriguez confronted a second man and swung his knife at him several times, police said. The man did not sustain any injuries.

Nassau County police ambulance transported the first man, who sustained a laceration, to a local hospital for treatment, police said.

Rodriguez is being charged with two counts of first degree attempted robbery, second degree attempted robbery, second degree assault, third degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of second degree menacing, police said.

He will be arraigned on Friday.