Riverhead man robbed at knifepoint near his home, police say

Two men were charged with robbing a man at knifepoint outside his Riverhead home on Thursday nigh, Riverhead Town police said.

Police said the victim, identified only as a 32-year-old man, was "standing near his residence" when he was approached by the two men, who then displayed a knife and beat the man "about the head," stealing his cellphone and cash before fleeing on foot. The incident occurred at 11:43 p.m., police said.

Following a canvass of the area, police arrested Victorino Reynosa, 31, of Sag Harbor, and Wilber Estuardo Garrido Veliz, 31, of Riverhead.

Both were charged with one count of first-degree robbery. Reynosa was additionally charged with one count of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Police said property belonging to the victim was recovered during the arrests.

Both men were held overnight for arraignment Friday, police said. It was not known if they were represented by counsel.

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.”