Roosevelt resident Elmer Marroquin was armed with a machete shortly after 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26 in the parking lot of Lifetime Fitness on Zeckendorf Boulevard in East Garden City when he approached a vehicle, Nassau County Police said.
Marroquin ordered the people out of the vehicle, at which point they ran off, taking the key fob with them, rendering the vehicle inoperable, according to police. Marroquin proceeded to flee on foot.
The investigation into the attempted armed robbery led police to Marroquin, who was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Police noted that Marroquin was transported to an area hospital for treatment of an unrelated illness following his arrest.
Investigators did not disclose what illness Marroquin was suffering from.
Marroquin, 38, was charged with:
- first-degree attempted robbery,
- second-degree attempted robbery of a motor vehicle,
- menacing,
- and criminal possession of a weapon.
Police said that Marroquin will be arraigned “when medically practical.”
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