Police make arrest in brutal mugging

Police in Elmont announced early last Monday morning that two arrests had been made in a brutal assault and robbery that occurred near Belmont Park earlier this month.

Detective from the Fifth Precinct announced that Jossue Esparza, 21, of Elmont, and Jorge Blanco, 27, of Elmont were arrested on Sunday, March 21 for their alleged involvement in the mugging of a 45-year-old woman on a bicycle on March 6. The woman, who police have not identified, was riding her bike and listening to an mp3 player as she left the stable complex within Belmont Park.

The victim stopped for a moment to change a song on the music player, and stood on her bike on the cracked sidewalks that left the racetrack.

Detectives said that while she was distracted, Esparza snuck up on her from behind and grabbed her by the neck, while Blanco ran up to her and proceeded to assault her, kicking her from the side while she struggled.

Eventually, police said, Esparza dragged the woman to the ground while Blanco rifled through her pockets, eventually ripping the mp3 player out her hands by the headphone cord.

Once the two men had stolen her music player, Esparza allegedly kept punching her in the face, neck and head as she tried to protect herself on the ground.

Esparza and Blanco then allegedly fled south away from Hempstead Turnpike without being stopped.

The victim was transported to Franklin Hospital via ambulance after police and emergency medical technicians were called to the scene. Her injuries, which were extensive, included a possibly fractured nose, a swollen black eye, a swollen lip, bruises and contusions around her forehead and a possible concussion.

According to statistics from the Fifth Precinct, robbery incidents in the area have increased by nearly 40 percent over last year, while the number of assaults has remained static. Through March 8 of this year, the most recent date available, there have been 25 robberies in the precinct, compared to 18 in 2009.

After a two-week investigation, detectives arrested Esparza and Blanco on March 21. Both men were charged with robbery and assault. They were scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead last Monday. The victim also had her mp3 player returned.