Bellerose Terrace man faces robbery charges

A Bellerose Terrace man was arrested Friday in connection with a robbery, Nassau police said.

Thomas Reilly, 21, was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery and criminal possession of a weapon. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Saturday in First District Court where bail was set at $250,000 bond or $125,000. He is due back in court Tuesday.

Reilly was in a car with the driver and the driver's friend near Ontario Road and 244th Street, in Bellerose Terrace, after buying cigarettes at about 3 a.m. Wednesday when he put a box cutter to the driver's neck and demanded his money and his car, police said.

The driver, a 21-year-old man, surrendered the 2010 white Honda to Reilly, police said, and the driver's friend exited the vehicle. Reilly then drove eastbound on Jericho Turnpike in the car with an unknown amount of cash, police said. The car was later located by detectives, and Reilly was arrested Friday in Floral Park, police said. The driver was unharmed, police said.