Cops: Three arrested in street robbery spree

Three men have been arrested on robbery and gun charges in connection with a spree of street robberies in Elmont, Great Neck and Manhasset, police said.

The suspects threatened their victims with a gun before nabbing cellphones and wallets, but no one was injured in the four incidents beginning July 29 and ending Tuesday, police said.

The defendants -- Joshua B. Prince, 21; Nakwan Hailey, 21; and Dillan Malebranche, 20; all of Elmont -- are set to be arraigned Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Prince is facing nine counts of first-degree robbery and four counts of first-degree criminal use of a firearm in connection with his alleged involvement in all four of the robberies. Hailey is charged with eight counts of first-degree robbery and is accused of committing three of the robberies. Malebranche faces four counts of first-degree robbery in what police said was his participation in the final incident.

The first incident occurred about 10:35 p.m. July 29, when a 22-year-old man was walking eastbound on Clair Street near Tobin Avenue in Great Neck. Police said he was approached by two masked men -- one with a black handgun. With a gun held to his neck, the victim handed over his cellphone and wallet, and the suspects fled on foot. Police charged Prince in this case.

Later that night, on July 30 at about midnight, three teenagers were walking on Webster Avenue in Manhasset on their way to a friend's house about midnight, when they were approached by three males -- one armed with a handgun, police said. The suspects demanded their cellphones. The victims complied, police said, and the suspects fled on foot. Prince, the alleged gunman, and Hailey were charged in that incident.

Then on Aug. 4, a 36-year-old man was walking on Plandome Road in Manhasset about 2:15 a.m. when one of the suspects displayed a handgun and demanded the victim's property, police said. The victim took his cellphone from his pocket, police said, and threw it across the road, prompting the suspects to run to get the phone. Police allege Prince and Hailey were the assailants.

Police said the most recent robbery allowed them to crack the case. About 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, detectives said Prince, Hailey and Malebranche approached four males ages 23 to 25 at the corner of Arthur Avenue and Adams Street in Elmont.

Police said Prince displayed a gun, while the other suspects demanded the victims hand over cellphones and wallets. The victims complied, police said, and the suspects fled on foot.

Fourth Precinct officers later saw a 2008 Acura driving a at "high rate of speed" and pulled it over near 485 Hempstead Tpke., police said.

Prince, Hailey and Malebranche were inside the car, police said, and each was arrested.