Cops Arrest Two Men for Robberies

Two men from the Five Towns were arrested and charged with two robberies and two attempted robberies that occurred late Saturday night in East Rockaway, according to police.

Nicholas Sarnelli, 32, of Inwood, and Joseph Rosales, 19, of Cedarhurst, allegedly held up a 46-year-old woman at knifepoint and stole her pocketbook containing a cell phone at around 11:15 p.m. Saturday, police said. Less than an hour later, the two men apparently approached a 17-year-old boy with a knife and took his cell phone and money.

Sarnelli and Rosales at 12:10 a.m. apparently tried to rob another 17-year-old boy, who fled the scene without giving up his belongings, police said. Finally, ten minutes later, the two defendants attempted to rob a 33-year-old woman, who began to "walk away hurriedly" and the defendants fled the scene, police said. No injuries were reported.

An off duty detective saw the defendants engaging in what he believed to be another attempt and arrested Sarnelli at a later time, police said.

Sarnelli is charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery. He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Sunday. Rosales, who was arrested on Tuesday, is also charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery. He was arraigned on Tuesday.