Homeless man tried to rob Copiague bank, police say

Suffolk County police arrested a homeless man they said tried to rob a Copiague bank Friday afternoon.

John Phillips, 56, was charged with attempted robbery after he handed a teller a note demanding cash at a Bank of America branch at 1283 Sunrise Hwy. at 2:45 p.m., police said.

The teller did not comply and Phillips ran away but was captured shortly after by First Precinct Police Officers Michael Gorey and Steven Squires.

Phillips was to be held overnight at the First Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Central Islip.