Man charged with attack outside Hooters

A Hempstead man was arrested and charged with cutting a woman with a knife during a robbery attempt Friday afternoon in an East Meadow restaurant parking lot, police said.

Jose M. Zavala-Mejia, 19, of 35 Elk. St., was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree assault and two counts of fourth-degree possession of a dangerous weapon.

The injured woman was treated and released at a local hospital after receiving several stitches to cut fingers, Nassau police said.

The woman, 27, who was not identified by police, was in the parking lot of Hooters Restaurant, 1740 Hempstead Turnpike, when Zavala-Mejia grabbed her and began struggling with her, police said. During the struggle, he cut her left hand with a kitchen knife, police said.

Without taking anything, Zavala-Mejia then fled on foot westbound on Hempstead Turnpike toward Merrick Avenue, police said, and the victim was able to drive herself to the hospital where she notified authorities.

Based on the victim's description, Zavala-Mejia was found a short time later walking in the vicinity of Merrick Avenue and was arrested without incident, police said.

He was to be arraigned Saturday in First District Court, Hempstead.