Man arrested for allegedly dragging woman with his car during violent robbery outside Port Jefferson Station T.J. Maxx
Detectives are asking anyone with information on the robbery to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.
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A Mount Sinai man is accused of dragging a woman with his car during a violent robbery outside the T.J. Maxx in Port Jefferson Station before crashing his car in Farmingville while trying to flee the cops Wednesday afternoon, Suffolk County police said.
"They taped everything off," Jose Lugo, who works next door, said. "[There was] crime scene tape all around the T.J. Maxx parking lot."
According to investigators, a 64-year-old woman was walking in the store parking lot at 5125 Nesconset Highway when a man drove up to her, got out of his car and grabbed her purse just before 1 p.m.
The victim held onto her purse as the suspect got back into his car and started to drive away, dragging the woman a short distance before she eventually let go of the bag as the driver took off, police said.
"You're not safe to go anywhere anymore," Port Jefferson Station resident Bob Salvati said. "It's just unbelievable to hear stuff like that close to home."
The woman was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Suffolk County police eventually located the car and attempted to pull the driver over on N. Ocean Avenue in Selden, but the driver continued going south before crashing on Horseblock Road just west of N Ocean Avenue in Farmingville, about 8 miles from where the initial robbery took place.
"[It's] extremely scary," Coram resident Loretta Villanueva said. "The world is crazy right now and you have to be on your guard all the time."
Officers arrested the driver, identified as Mark Callahan, 53. They said he sustained self-inflicted stab wounds and was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police charged Callahan with one count of second degree robbery.
He's expected to be arraigned at a later date.
Detectives are asking anyone with information on the robbery to call the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.
