Williston Park teen arrested in Roosevelt Field mall slashing, police say

A Williston Park teen has been arrested after slashing a woman in the face Monday at Roosevelt Field mall, Nassau County police said.

Major Case Bureau detectives from the Gang Investigation Squad arrested Verlain Beauge, 18, Tuesday, charging him with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

The victim, 20, was walking on the second floor of the mall in East Garden City about 4:20 p.m. when she was "struck in the face" by a man, who then fled, police said. The woman told police she had seen a knife in the suspect's hand after being hit. She suffered a large cut to  her left cheek and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said. 

Court records show Beauge was arrested Jan. 23 and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, and again March 3 and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was released without bail both times. He is scheduled to appear in court June 26 for his next hearing on those charges.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”