Centereach resident and ice cream truck driver stopped robber after he allegedly climbed into truck and grabbed cash.
According to the Riverhead Police Department, a man driving a Mister Softee ice cream truck was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Hawkins Road and Nichols Road in Centereach at around 7:30 p.m. when a man, later identified as Robert Martone, 42, of Centereach, jumped in through the order window. The man wielding a gun, robbed the driver of cash and ran off.
Michael Rhatigan, of Centereach, was also stopped at the red light and reportedly witnessed the incident. Rhatigan and the ice cream truck driver chased Martone into a nearby wooded area and held him until police arrived.
Ultimately, the cash and handgun, which happened to be an imitation weapon, were recovered and police charged Martone with Robbery. He will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip Sunday.
