Man arrested in connection with East Rockaway CVS robbery, nearby carjacking

This CVS, on Ocean Avenue in East Rockaway, was recently robbed. Police have apprehended a suspect.

Mary Malloy/Herald

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Nassau County police have arrested a Suffolk County man who they say robbed a CVS store on Ocean Avenue in East Rockaway, then stole a woman’s car as he was being pursued by the store’s manager and another employee. He was arrested at his home after a police nvestigation.

According to Fourth Squad detectives, on April 22 at 3 p.m., David Melis, 59, of Holtsville, was seen shoplifting assorted store merchandise in the CVS at 488 Ocean Ave. After Melis left the store without paying, the store manager, helped by another employee, chased him west on Prospect Avenue, behind the store. After a brief struggle, the stolen property was recovered by the store manager.

Melis took off running once more, police said, and was again followed on Prospect Avenue. He confronted a woman who was about to enter her running car, pushed her out of the way and jumped into the vehicle, a gray 2010 Toyota Corolla. Witnesses ran to her aid and attempted to pull Melis from the car, but he shifted it into reverse, struck a parked vehicle behind him and then drove forward, onto and across the victim’s lawn, before heading east and disappearing. The car has yet to be recovered. No injuries were reported in the incident. The victim’s car has not been recovered.

Melis was charged with second- and third-degree robbery and petit larceny. He was also charged with fourth-degree grand larceny and two counts of petit larceny for incidents at other CVS locations on April 14. He was arraigned on April 25 at First District Court in Hempstead.