Masked, Armed Men Try to Rob Auto Repair Shop on Halloween: Cops

QUOGUE, NY — Trick or treaters in masks, who reportedly at first asked for candy, tried to rob a Quogue car repair business on Halloween, police said.

According to Quogue Village Police, a call came at 2:50 p.m. regarding an armed robbery at Escobar Auto Repairs on Midhampton Ave. in Quogue; two men wearing Halloween masks, "possibly armed with a handgun," had fled the scene in a black vehicle, police said.

Officers arriving at the scene found two men, one with injuries, who provided a description of the pair; that description was broadcast to local law enforcement agencies, police said.

(Quogue Village Police renderings of the masks they say were worn during the Halloween robbery attempt).

Shortly after, a Southampton Town Police officer located the vehicle and the two men on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays, police said.

Jason A. Hutson, 33, and Shaun J. Worthington, 19, both of Riverhead, were arrested and charged with first degree attempted robbery and fifth degree conspiracy, police said.

Hutson was also charged with second degree menacing and fifth degree criminal use of a firearm, police said. Worthington, Jr. was also charged with second degree assault, police said.

Both Hutson and Worthington Jr. were arraigned in Quogue Justice Court on Thursday, police said.

(Ulises Galdamez and his grandfather, courtesy Ulises Galdamez).

Ulises Galdamez, who owns the shop with his grandfather, said he had left to go test drive a vehicle when the two people wearing masks came into the shop, asking his grandfather for candy.

When his grandfather put candy in the Halloween basket, Galdamez said his grandfather was "attacked, hit in the back of the head"; he and a co-worker fought back and chased the alleged robbers out of the shop, as evidenced on surveillance video of the incident, Galdamez said.

His grandfather, he said, is 68 years old. "He kept hitting him, kicking him," Galdamez said. "How tough do you feel, beating a 68-year old man?" Galdamez asked. "I don't know how they can sleep at night."

The other man, Galdamez said, allegedly tried to grab another staffer before the staffer and his grandfather "fought back" and chased the pair from the business.

His grandfather, Galdamez said, had a gash on his head and a concussion and was taken to the hospital but is home now.

His grandfather, Galdamez said, is hardworking man, the first at the shop in the morning, who "would give anyone the shirt off his back. He'd rather give someone who was starving his own food, and starve himself. That's the kind of man he is. If I'm half the man my grandfather is in my life, I'll feel like I've succeeded."

The community, Galdamez said, has reached out after the incident, offering help and sending messages of concern and support.

Patch photos courtesy Quogue Village Police.