Cops: Homeless man charged in Valley Stream machete attack

Nassau County police arrested and charged a homeless man early Tuesday for an alleged machete attack inside a Valley Stream laundry that left the victim hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said.

Police said officers were called to the Laundry Palace on Merrick Road about 2 a.m. where they found a man "in his fifties" on the floor with multiple wounds from a machete.

Roberto Velasquez, 30, allegedly had attacked the victim, who was transported to a hospital in critical condition, police said in a news release late Tuesday.

Police arrested Velasquez nearby and charged him with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault, officials said.

He was held after arraignment Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead. He represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County and his next court appearance is Friday, according to online court records.

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.