Alberto Garcia charged with breaking into Hicksville home, lunging at man with knife

A homeless man allegedly broke into a Hicksville home and attacked one of the people inside with a knife, but the resident managed to overpower the intruder and hold him until officers arrived, Nassau County police said.

Police said Alberto Garcia, 35, who was charged with attempted murder after his arrest, allegedly entered the West Cherry Avenue home just after 5 a.m. Sunday through an unlocked living room window. He made his way into the kitchen, police said, where he grabbed a red kitchen knife. Garcia then went to the basement, where he confronted a 24-year-old man, a 34-year-old woman and a 10-year-old girl, according to police.

Garcia lunged at the man while swinging the knife and cut the man’s right thumb, police said. The 24-year-old man, who was not identified, threw a blanket on Garcia, tackled him and held him down until the police arrived.

The man was transported to a hospital for treatment and Garcia was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation.

Police said they recovered the knife at the scene.

Garcia was also charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. At his arraignment Monday, Garcia pleaded not guilty and was remanded without bail, according to court records. A temporary order of protection was issued, the records show.

He is scheduled to return to court Thursday. Garcia is being represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, according to the records.