Armed Men Posed as Maintenance Workers, Invaded Occupied Rooms at Suffolk County Hotel: Police

Two men posed as maintenance workers and broke into occupied rooms at the Clarion Hotel in Ronkonkoma Sunday morning, police said.

According to police, 35-year-old Matthew Caroli, of East Patchogue, and 31-year-old Ryan Demarco, of Coram, were armed with a knife and wearing masks when they forced their way into a room where two men and a woman were sleeping and demanded money, jewelry and a vehicle at about 5:30 a.m. at the hotel located at 3845 Veterans Memorial Highway.

The hotel guests were able to fight off the attackers and subdued one of the men, police said. The second burglar fled down the hall and held a knife to a person in another room, where the suspect attempted to hide, police said.

Fifth Precinct officers responded and were able to locate and apprehend Caroli and Demarco, police said.

Further investigations revealed that Caroli was responsible for robbing the Chase Bank located at 471 Route 112 in Patchogue on April 21 and for robbing the Astoria Federal Savings located at 269 Middle Country Road in Coram on July 26, police said.

Caroli will be held at the Fifth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on Monday.

Demarco was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for injuries sustained during the incident, police said. He will be arraigned at a later date.

SCPD photo: Matthew Caroli