Valley Cottage Home Invaded Over Drug Deal

Clarkstown police were called to Miller Road at 3:40 p.m. Feb. 12 after an reported assault.

Officers interviewed the victim, an 18-year-old Valley Cottage resident, who told them she was at home with a friend, an 18-year-old Central Nyack woman, when she heard what sounded like someone banging at her front door.

As the banging continued the front door window was shattered by a man wielding what appeared to be a crow bar. He and a woman then forced their way in. The woman told police the man swung the crow bar toward her and her friend, yelling “Give me my money.”

Then, she said, he picked up the shattered glass from the front door window and threw pieces at her. After that, the duo took a cell phone and an I-Pod, ran out of the house and drove off in a gray 4x4 truck.

She told police she threw something as they fled and shattered the truck’s rear window.

The officers broadcasted a description of the truck and suspects. A short time later they were spotted at the Lake Ridge Shopping Plaza in Valley Cottage.

Tao Zhang, 26 and Vivian Wu, 25, were arrested and transported to police headquarters for processing. Wu’s 4-month-old child, who was in the truck, was placed in the care of family members.

The Valley Cottage resident was taken to Nyack Hospital for lacerations.

Police said their preliminary investigation revealed that the parties may have been involved in a drug deal in the past that made Zhang and Wu angry with a friend of the victim. The detective bureau is following up on the matter.

Zhang and Wu were charged with robbery 1st (felony), burglary 1st (felony), criminal mischief 3rd (felony), menacing2nd (misdemeanor), harassment 2nd (violation) and endangering the welfare of a child (misdemeanor).

They were arraigned in the Clarkstown Justice Court. Bail was set at $35,000 and they were transported to the Rockland County Jail. They will return to court Feb. 18.