The Second Squad reports the arrest of a Plainview man on Friday December 18, at 6:30 p.m.
According to detectives, the defendant, William A. Tockash, 50, of Plainview approached the 17-year-old female victim as she was parked in her vehicle in the parking lot of the Plainview Public Library located at 999 Old Country Road, asked her the time then reached in, opened the door and entered her vehicle. Once inside, the defendant made the victim drive around the neighborhood and when the victim stopped her vehicle on Joyce Lane, the defendant threw the gearshift into park then put his hands across the victim’s face and mouth, police stated. The victim was able to grab the keys, exit the vehicle and scream for help. The defendant then exited the vehicle and fled on foot into the rear yards on Joyce Lane.
Second Precinct officers, at the library starting their investigation, were advised by a witness that she had recognized the defendant from a poster identifying him as a registered sex offender and had seen him park his white van on Rex Place, police stated. Plainclothes Second Precinct officers found the van and arrested the defendant as he attempted to enter it. He also was found to be in possession of a gravity knife.
Tockash was charged with Robbery 1st Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree and Unlawful Imprisonment 2nd Degree. He will be arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead on Saturday December 19.
