Cops: Elmont teen arrested after victim gives chase

An Elmont teen was arrested Tuesday morning in Valley Stream after his robbery victim and a passerby gave chase and called authorities, Nassau County police said.

Lashawn Pierre, 18, approached the 29-year-old woman, who was waiting for a bus on Merrick Road near Central Avenue in Valley Stream, pushed her, "forcibly removed" a phone from her hand and fled on foot, police said.

The woman gave chase, police said, helped by a 46-year-old man in a car, who also called 911.

Pierre was spotted at Merrick Road and Fletcher Avenue, and police took him into custody on Crowell Place at 8:37 a.m., police said. "The phone was recovered and no injuries were reported," police said.

Pierre was charged with third-degree robbery and is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.