Police Make 2nd Arrest In Mastic Beach Robbery

MASTIC BEACH, NY — A second arrest has been made in connection with a robbery in which a person was left bloodied in Mastic Beach back in January, Suffolk police said.

Michael McLaughlin, 31, of Port Jefferson Station pointed a BB gun at a person and it struck them on the head during a robbery on Forest Road West on Jan. 16, said police, adding that he made off with a cell phone, cash, and a bag containing a wallet and clothes.

It took place just before 8 a.m. and the victim walked to a local laundromat to call for help before being taken to Long Island Community Hospital in East Patchogue for treatment of "non-life-threatening injuries," police said after the incident in January.

No further details were released about the incident.

McLaughlin was charged with first-degree robbery, as well as assault with the intent to cause physical injury on April 20, police said. At the time of his arraignment, a temporary order of protection was issued and his bail was set at $200,000 bond or $100,000 cash, online court records show.

McLoughlin has not yet posted bail, records show.

A second man, Joseph Panettiere, 32, of Calverton was arrested in Rocky Point and charged with robbery in March, according to police. Online court records were not available for Panettiere.