Woman assaulted in restaurant parking lot

Police reported the arrest of a Hempstead man after he allegedly assaulted a woman in the parking lot of Hooters in East Meadow on Jan. 21. 

According to First Squad detectives, Jose M. Zavala-Mejia, 19, confronted and grabbed an unidentified 27-year-old female at about 2:06 a.m.  During a struggle between the defendant and victim, police said, Zavala-Mejia cut the woman’s left hand with a knife and then fled on food westbound on Hempstead Turnpike toward Merrick Avenue. 

Police said the victim was able to drive herself to a local hospital where she called police and received several stitches to fingers. According to detectives, Zavala-Mejia was arrested without incident after he was found walking in the vicinity of Merrick Avenue. 

The defendant was charged with Attempted Robbery 1st Degree, Assault 2nd Degree and two counts of possession of Dangerous Weapon 4th Degree, officials said. He was arraigned on First District Court, Hempstead on Jan. 22. A judge set bail at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond, according to court records.