Police: Man Forcibly Stole Cellphone From Woman in Westbury

A Queens man was arrested Friday after he impersonated a police officer in Upper Brookville and stole a cellphone in Westbury, police said.

According to authorities, a woman was taking pictures outside Viana Hotel & Spa, located at 3998 Brush Hollow Road, when a man forcibly took her cellphone and fled the scene on foot around 1:30 a.m. Friday.

The hotel manager identified the thief as a patron of the hotel after reviewing surveillance footage of the incident.

David Nourmand, 32, of 102-50 67th Road in Forest Hills, was placed under arrest when he returned to the hotel around 2:30 p.m.

Authorities then identified Nourmand as the alleged person who forcibly pulled over a taxi cab with his vehicle and identified himself as a police officer on Wolverhollow Road in Upper Brookville at 1:20 a.m. Friday.

Police said Nourmand demanded the identification of the taxi passengers and told them, “We are looking for a killer.”

Nourmand ran back to his vehicle and fled the scene when occupants asked to see his police identification, police said.

Nourmand is being charged with third degree robbery and second degree criminal impersonation.

He will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Saturday.

Image via NCPD

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