Mineola Chase bank robber tried to escape in cab, police say

A Garden City Park man was arrested after Nassau County police said he robbed a Mineola bank Saturday morning, then caught a cab to escape.

Police said Monroe Williamson, 28, went to the Chase bank at 216 Old Country Road, where he handed a note to a teller demanding cash at about 9:23 a.m.

The teller, a 44-year-old woman, gave Williamson an undisclosed amount of cash, after which he fled in an All Island Taxi that he caught at a Mineola taxi stand, police said.

There was one customer and one other employee in the bank at the time of the robbery, police said. No one was injured.

Nassau police contacted Hempstead Village police about the robbery suspect. Village police arrested Williamson, of 179 Park Ave., shortly after 10 a.m. at Washington Street and Burr Avenue in Hempstead, where he was walking after being dropped off by the taxi. Officers recovered the cash.

Williamson, who was charged with third-degree robbery, reported feeling ill during his arrest and was being examined by medical staff, police said. He will be arraigned after he is medically cleared.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.