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The incident happened in Yorktown on Tuesday, March 4, just before noon, when there was a reported robbery at the Mobil gas station at 3205 Crompond Rd., Yorktown Police said on Thursday, March 13.
According to police, the suspect had already fled the scene by the time officers arrived. Investigators say the man brandished a knife and demanded money from the cashier. However, the clerk had already activated an alarm, causing the suspect to leave empty-handed.
A K9 search of the area was conducted with assistance from the Westchester County Police, but officers were unable to locate the suspect at that time.
Detectives continued investigating the incident and identified 43-year-old Paul Recchia, of Mahopac, as a potential suspect, the department said.
On Tuesday, March 11, Yorktown Police coordinated with the Carmel Police Department, where Recchia was already being held on an unrelated charge. Following further investigation, Yorktown Police linked him to the March 4 attempted robbery and took him into custody once he was released by Carmel Police, authorities said.
Recchia has been charged with the following:
- First-degree attempted robbery;
- Second-degree menacing;
- Fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
After being processed at Yorktown Police Headquarters, Recchia was arraigned before a judge, who issued a temporary order of protection for the store clerk.
Recchia was remanded to the Westchester County Jail on $50,000 cash bail and is scheduled to appear in Yorktown Justice Court on Thursday at 6 p.m.
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