Police: Two suspects in Holtsville home invasion wanted cellphone

A Patchogue man intent on retrieving pictures from a cellphone of a Holtsville homeowner’s son was one of two people arrested in connection with a Wednesday morning home invasion, police said.

Two Suffolk County police officers also suffered nonlife-threatening injuries during one of the arrests, police said.

“Apparently the motivation was to get a cellphone back,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini during an unrelated news conference held Wednesday at police headquarters in Yaphank. “It was the son’s phone they were looking for. It was a dispute among the children. There were some photos on that phone [the suspects] were concerned about.”

Robert Lathan, 29, of Poe Place, Patchogue, was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, burglary, criminal mischief and resisting arrest, police said.

Miguel Ruiz, 24, of Poospatuck Lane, Mastic, was charged with criminal trespass, police said.

According to a news release, shortly after 12:05 a.m. police responded to a 911 call reporting a burglary at the Morris Avenue home. Police said Lathan fled the scene and intentionally drove his 2015 Chevrolet Equinox into a responding police car.

“The owner of the home was able to call 911 and . . . by the time the perps were leaving, our police were there, and we were able to take the individuals into custody,” Sini said.

Ruiz, who was sought for questioning at the scene of the burglary, fled the area on foot, police said. He was found in a nearby yard by a Canine Section officer and Ruiz was bitten by the police dog while he was attempting to flee, police said.

The police officer who was driving the police car that was struck was not injured, but two other police officers were injured while taking Lathan into custody.

“The main suspect resisted arrest,” Sini said.

Police said there were four people in the home at the time of the burglary and no one inside was injured.