Man Involved in Nassau Police Brutality Incident Charged With Knifepoint Robbery

A Westbury man at the center of a Nassau County police brutality case was arrested Tuesday after police say he robbed two people at knifepoint, cutting a victim on both of his hands, in Great Neck Plaza.

In 2014, Nassau County Police officer Vincent LoGiudice was accused of beating Kyle Howell during a Westbury traffic stop after surveillance footage of the incident went public.

Howell, now 22-years-old, faces robbery, weapons and drug charges after police say he approached a parked car occupied by two people, opened the door and put a knife to a 20-year-old man’s throat and demanded money at 7:45 p.m. Monday. When the victim tried to push the robber away, Howell cut the man on both hands, police say. The 19-year-old female passenger in the car complied to Howell’s demands and handed over an undisclosed amount of cash, police say.

Howell, who police say was known to the victims, then allegedly proceeded to stab both seats of the car before fleeing the scene.

The 20-year-old man suffered lacerations to both hands and received treatment at a local hospital for his injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Howell was then located on Spinney Hill Drive in Manhasset inside a vehicle with two other people on Tuesday. Police say Howell, Nancy Peterson, 26, of Flower Hill, and Jamiel Hendricks, 31, of Manhasset were all found to be in possession of Xanax and Howell was additionally found to be in possession of cocaine.

Hendricks and Peterson were each charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Howell was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery, first-degree attempted robbery, two counts of second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

All three defendants will be arraigned Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Image via NCPD