Lynbrook man arrested in mall carjacking

A Lynbrook man was arrested Thursday on charges that included attempted murder after he stabbed a man and stole a car from Roosevelt Field mall in East Garden City, Nassau County police said.

Damien Armella, 31, was arrested after he drove off with a 2007 Mazda 3 that the owner left idling in front of a restaurant about 10 p.m. Wednesday, police said. The passenger in that car was stabbed after he refused to get out, police said.

Armella was charged with first degree attempted murder, first degree robbery, first degree assault, second degree robbery and fourth degree possession of a dangerous weapon.

The vehicle's owner, a 23-year-old man, had gone into Houston's Restaurant in Roosevelt Field, where he works, to pick up his paycheck, police said.

The stabbing victim, 21, was sitting in the front passenger seat waiting for his friend to return, police said.

After a few minutes, the suspect got in and began to drive off, police said, adding the suspect turned to the passenger and said: "Are you going to get out?" The victim said: "No."

Police said the carjacker then took out a kitchen knife and stabbed the passenger in the face, head and left hand. The victim opened the door and "rolled" out of the car, police said. He was treated at a hospital for stab wounds.

Armella, who was apprehended with the assistance of the New York State Police and Suffolk County police, was to be arraigned Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.

With Gary Dymski

and John Valenti