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The incident unfolded on Wednesday, March 5, around 2:20 p.m., when Yorktown Police officers responded to the Shrub Oak Shopping Center for a reported assault, the department said on Thursday, March 6.
According to investigators, 42-year-old Charles Santiago of Putnam Valley pulled his vehicle in front of a 16-year-old girl as she was walking. Wearing a fake police badge around his neck, Santiago falsely identified himself as a law enforcement officer before shoving the victim against a building, police said.
He then allegedly grabbed the victim’s phone out of her hands as she recorded him, threw her to the ground, and caused injuries. Two bystanders intervened, pulling Santiago from the victim before police arrived.
Santiago was taken into custody at the scene and processed at the Yorktown Police Department. He is now facing several charges, including:
- Second-degree robbery;
- First-degree criminal impersonation of a police officer;
- Second-degree reckless endangerment;
- Acting in a manner injurious to a child;
- Third-degree assault.
He was arraigned before Judge Cohen-Pierson, who issued a Temporary Order of Protection for the victim. Bail was set at $3,500 cash, which was later posted, leading to Santiago’s release.
Santiago is scheduled to appear in Yorktown Justice Court on Thursday, March 20, at 6:00 p.m.
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