SHRUB OAK, NY — A student who was grabbing a slice after school at a nearby pizzeria when everything changed in an instant.
The Yorktown Police Department says that on Thursday, around 2:20 p.m., officers responded to the Shrub Oak Shopping Center parking lot after receiving reports of a possible assault taking place.
Police say that 42-year-old Charles Santiago, of Putnam Valley, pulled his vehicle in front of the 16-year-old girl as she was walking, exited his vehicle wearing a “police-type badge” around his neck and verbally identified himself as law enforcement. It was later determined that he was not in fact in law enforcement, according to police.
Yorktown police say that Santiago then shoved the girl against the building, pulled her phone out of her hands as she was recording him, and threw her down onto the ground, resulting in injuries.
Two bystanders intervened and separated Santiago from the victim, according to police.
Santiago was arrested at the scene and processed at police headquarters. Yorktown police say he was charged with felony second-degree robbery, felony first-degree criminal impersonation of a police officer, misdemeanor second-degree reckless endangerment, midemeanor acting in a manner injurious to a child, and misdemeanor third-degree assault.
The victim was treated and released at a local hospital.
Santaiago was arraigned and the judge issued a Temporary Order of Protection protecting the victim. He is due back in court on March 20.