4 charged in eatery robbery, kidnapping

Four Hempstead men have been arrested in a Monday night kidnapping and robbery at a restaurant in East Garden City, police said Wednesday.

Nassau County police said Wednesday in a news release the arrests are the result of a joint investigation between its Third Squad and the Hempstead Police Department.

Those arrested and their charges include:

Ubence Paz, 21, of 15 Elk St.; kidnapping, robbery, burglary, criminal use of a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon, and resisting arrest.

Kevin Hernandez, 19, of 50 Jackson St., Apt. 328; kidnapping, robbery, burglary, criminal use of a firearm and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Marcos Hernandez, 25, of 21 Lent Ave.; robbery, burglary and conspiracy.

Noe Antonio Hernandez 21, of 21 Union Place; criminal possession of stolen property and tampering with physical evidence.

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All four men are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said on Monday, a worker at Ruth's Chris Steak House, 600 Old Country Rd., was closing the restaurant at 11:50 p.m. when she was "accosted by two armed males who demanded she take them to the safe," police said.

The suspects were unable to force open the safe, so "they removed it outside to the victim's car. The victim was detained by the subjects and forced into her vehicle," police said.

Police said the suspects drove the vehicle to Hempstead, dumped the safe at an unknown location, and took the victim to a wooded area on Cathedral Avenue, where they abandoned her and the vehicle before fleeing.

The victim, 53, who was not injured, ran to a nearby house, where a resident called police.

The safe was recovered in Franklin Square.