Police arrest four in Patchogue robbery

Suffolk County police arrested four people Saturday for robbing a man with a knife while he was in his car in Patchogue.

Police said the incident began when a 53-year-old New Jersey man met two women outside of Rudi's Bar and Grill, located on Route 112 in Patchogue, on Friday.

Police said he spoke with the women and then took them to a diner. The man later went with the women in his vehicle to the end of Cedar Avenue in Patchogue, where three men came from behind him and one took out a knife, police said.

Police said the victim was robbed of his wallet, cellphone, and the satellite radio in his vehicle, a 1999 Toyota, at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday. One of the suspects tossed the victim's keys away.

Police said the victim found his keys and drove to the Fifth Precinct, where he reported the incident. A description of the suspects was sent out, and shortly after, Officer Arnold Reyes saw a 2009 Toyota Camry with five occupants. Officers Reyes saw the driver of the vehicle make a turn without using a signal and pulled the vehicle over around 2:10 a.m.

Police said Officer Reyes realized four of the five vehicle occupants matched the broadcast description. The knife and the radio were recovered in the vehicle and the victim's wallet and cellphone were recovered a short distance away.

Fifth Squad detectives charged Dana Hallett, 24, of 98 Maple Ave., Patchogue, Vincent Crawley, 22, of 507 East 176th St., Bronx, Lianna Hughes-Rivera, 25, of 636 College Rd., Farmingville and Melonie Lambert, 32, of 77 Waverly Ave., Patchogue, with robbery in the first degree. Anthony Freeman, 34, of 40 Kejaro Court, Centereach, the operator of the 2009 Toyota Camry, which was reported stolen, is expected to be charged.

Hallett, Crawley, Hughes-Rivera and Lambert are scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on Sunday.