Cops: Man left daughter in car, stole clothing

A Far Rockaway man who allegedly left his daughter in a car while stealing clothes from a department store and later broke the toe of an officer attempting to arrest him was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on several charges Sunday, including assault, authorities said.

Eric Midyett, 34, concealed clothes from Burlington Coat Factory in a bag, but set off alarms while exiting the store at 5500 Sunrise Hwy. in Massapequa at 8:45 Saturday night, authorities said.

Midyett fled on foot when a police officer stopped to question him at Sunrise Highway and Unqua Road, detectives said.

Officers found the suspect in the parking lot of 5300 Sunrise Hwy. He refused to be handcuffed and a struggle ensued before he was taken into custody, authorities said.

An officer was treated for a broken toe on his right foot at a hospital. The clothes were recovered, police said.

Detectives discovered Midyett had left his 9-year-old daughter in his car, while they said he was taking items from the store. The child was released to her grandmother.

Midyett was charged with second-degree assault, resisting arrest, petty larceny and endangering the welfare of a child.