Hostages held at gunpoint

Police nab burglar, kidnapper within hours

      An armed burglar terrorized two families in the western end of the village last Thursday evening. The gun- and dagger-wielding burglar pushed his way into a home on South Lewis Place, where he tied up and assaulted a 62-year old resident. The suspect later burglarized a second occupied home, this time on Ormond Street and with four young children present, where he again threatened residents with harm.
      The suspect, William F. Constant, 30, of West Hempstead, was later apprehended by police, just two and a half hours after the burglaries began.
      According to Det. Sgt. Richard Laursen of the First Squad police department, Mr. Constant broke into the South Lewis residence at about 9:30 P.M. The suspect confronted the 62-year old residents, and their 41-year-old daughter, and threatened to harm them unless he was given money and jewelry. He then bound the male resident with duct tape and a phone cord and assaulted him, causing minor injuries to the victim.
      While the victim was being tied, his wife escaped to a neighbor's house, where she called Rockville Centre police.
      Police responded, with assistance from multiple units of the Nassau County Police Department, but the suspect fled from the South Lewis residence before they arrived, taking with him an undisclosed amount of cash, jewelry and credit cards.
      A helicopter and police dogs were deployed to search out the suspect who, according to a police spokesperson, "was then caught in the act" at the home of the second burglary.
      Police say the suspect entered the home on Ormond Street through a rear door and demanded money from the residents at gun- and knifepoint. The man of the house was again tied up and his wife threatened with harm. The couple's four children, ages two through ten, were asleep in their bedrooms at the time of the incident, although never awakened.
      At approximately 11:30 P.M., Fourth Precinct Police Officer, Carl Triolo, observed the robbery in progress through a window of the residence, being perpetrated by a male fitting the description of the suspect, and called for backup.
      By 11:50 P.M., local and county police surrounded the house and hostage negotiators were called to the scene. Mr. Constant escaped through a second-story bathroom window and was apprehended by police after he climbed a neighbor's fence.
      Det. Sgt. John DeMartinis, of the First Squad police, was present at the scene of the first crime when the call came in for assistance at the second scene. "We had the house surrounded. Mr. Constant climbed the fence, and practically dropped into our arms," he said.
      The victims "held up very well considering the ordeal they were put through" and even assisted in the investigations, said Det. Sgt. DeMartinis.
      Mr. Constant's demeanor was "subdued" at the time of his apprehension and arrest and police believe he was not under the influence of any drugs at the time of the crimes.
      Mr. Constant was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, resisting arrest, and two counts each of kidnapping, robbery, burglary and criminal use of a firearm. After his arrest, it was determined by police that Mr. Constant was wielding a BB gun, that resembled a "black automatic hand gun."
      Police do not believe this case is related to the rash of occupied home burglaries that occurred throughout the village this summer because the earlier incidents were non-confrontational.
      "This was an example of excellent police work," said village spokesperson, Jeff Kluewer. "An arrest was made within hours of the first crime being reported.
      "Residents should feel secure in that the police were able to capture a dangerous criminal in such a short amount of time."