Man arrested in attempted street robbery

A Freeport man was arrested and charged with attempted robbery after he tried to steal an iPod Touch from an 11-year-old girl out for a walk with her mother in Merrick early Thursday evening, police said.

The girl and her mother, 46, were not injured in the attack.

Nassau County police said that, after a search, responding officers arrested Elizar Rodas, 21, of 13 Frederick Ave., who had fled the scene on his bicycle. Rodas was stopped and arrested on Merrick Avenue, police said.

Police said the attempted robbery occurred on Hewlett Avenue near Margaret Boulevard at 8:25 p.m. The mother and daughter were walking on Hewlett when Rodas approached on his bike -- and attempted to snatch the iPod from the girl, police said.

But, police said, the girl was able to hold on to the device, thwarting the attempt. Then, police said, Rodas tried to steal a cellphone from the girl's mom, only to fail there, too. He then fled as the woman called 911.

Rodas faces two counts of third-degree attempted robbery and is scheduled for arraignment Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.