Update: Suffolk County Police arrested an East Patchogue man on May 14 for assaulting an elderly man in a
Commack parking lot last week.

Robert Whittaker was panhandling for money in a parking lot, located at of 10 Garet Place, on May 7 when he pushed a 79-year-old man at approximately 3:45 p.m. The victim suffered minor injuries. Following an investigation by the Fourth Precinct Crime Section, officers responded to a 911 call reporting Whittaker was on East Main Street in Bay Shore today at 4:13 p.m.

Fourth Squad detectives charged Whittaker, 56, of 1 Brookwood Lane, with Assault 2nd Degree, a felony. He is being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on May 15.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Fourth Precinct Crime Section at 631-854-
8426.

Below is the original press release: 

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly pushed another man in a Commack parking lot.

A 79-year-old man was allegedly pushed by another man in the parking lot of 10 Garet Place on May 7 at approximately 3:45 p.m. The victim suffered minor injuries.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.