Cops: Merrick man charged in attempted robbery of bicyclist

A 20-year-old man who used his car to stop a 14-year-old bicyclist in an attempted street robbery last week in Bellmore, then threatened to hit him with a belt if he didn’t empty his pockets, surrendered to police Monday after being identified as a person of interest, police said.

Paul G. Zydor, of Kirkwood Avenue, Merrick, surrendered to Seventh Precinct police in Seaford and was charged with second-degree robbery, Nassau County police said. He faces arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said that Zydor, along with another male suspect yet to be arrested, used his vehicle to block the 14-year-old on St. Mark’s Place in Bellmore last Thursday at about 4:25 p.m. Zydor and the unnamed co-defendant then “ordered the victim to empty his pockets,” police said.

When the boy refused, police said Zydor exited the car and removed his belt — threatening to hit the teen with it if he did not comply. The boy dropped his bike and went to a nearby bank security guard, asking the guard to call police, police said.

Police said that, provided with details from the boy and the guard, officers were able to identify Zydor as a suspect.

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.”