2 brothers accused of stabbing in Hempstead

Nassau County police detectives announced the arrests early Saturday of two brothers accused of stabbing a man in Hempstead last June.

One of the brothers, Raphael Whyte, 28, of 21 Wellsley Lane in Coram, was taken into custody Friday, when police showed up at a Hempstead home with a warrant for his arrest.

His brother, Uriel Whyte, 27, of 7 Flint Ave. in Hempstead, was arrested less than a month after the stabbing last summer and is being held by Nassau County authorities. He is due back in court on April 18.

Detectives said the stabbing occurred on June 21, after the brothers were driving down Patterson Avenue in Hempstead and spotted someone with whom they had an ongoing dispute.

Police said Uriel Whyte, exiting the vehicle with his brother, pulled out a knife and stabbed the 19-year-old victim in the arm and chest. The brothers then fled in their car, police said.

The victim was admitted to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow for treatment for a collapsed lung and several cuts and bruises.

On July 18, Uriel Whyte was arraigned on charges of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and fourth-degree possession of a dangerous weapon in First District Court in Hempstead.

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With the help of the Hempstead Village Police Department, detectives from Nassau's Special Investigations Squad went to a neighboring address on Flint Avenue on Friday to execute an arrest warrant for Raphael Whyte.

Police said Raphael Whyte ran out the back door of the home. But police had set up a perimeter and Whyte was arrested without further incident, police said.

He was charged with second-degree attempted murder and two unrelated warrants charging third-degree criminal possession of marijuana and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

His arraignment on marijuana and criminal trespass charges, scheduled Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead, was delayed. Raphael Whyte, who was in the custody of the Nassau County Sheriff's Department, refused to be arraigned, as is his right, Nassau County district attorney spokesman Shams Tarek said.

If he continues to refuse, a judge may order Raphael Whyte to appear in court, he said.

The sheriff's department will try again Sunday to have Raphael Whyte arraigned on marijuana and criminal trespass charges in district court; and he is scheduled to be arraigned in Nassau County Court on a sealed indictment on Monday, Tarek said.

The sheriff's department said Raphael Whyte was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in the attempted murder.

With Ted Phillips