Police: Man broke into Uniondale home, threatened 9-year-old, family

A Uniondale family says they are shaken up after a man broke into their home and threatened them Sunday morning.

Police say it happened around 6:30 a.m. when a woman was robbed on New Place.

They say the suspect then fled and tried to get into a home on Southern Parkway. When the man couldn't get in, police say he forced his way into another home on the block.

Authorities say the man got in through the back door and grabbed a kitchen knife. He was then confronted by a 9-year-old boy.

They say the suspect grabbed the boy, put a knife to him and dragged him downstairs where he threatened the boy's aunt, Natasha Smillie, and other members of the family.

Investigators say Smillie's fiancé heard what was going on and ran into the room. They say there was a scuffle, and the suspect ran out of the house where he was confronted by a police officer. The officer chased the suspect before placing him under arrest.

"Our sergeant did a great job," said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder. "There was a foot chase -- jumped a couple of fences, then trapped him into a back area where we had a perimeter set up by patrol cops and then he was arrested."

No one was hurt in the incident.

Police have not released the name of the suspect. There is no word on what charges he may face. At this time, police say they believe the attacks were random.