Police: Man beaten with his own cane

A Jericho man punched another man in the parking lot of a McDonald's restaurant Thursday and then used the victim's walking cane to beat him, Nassau County police said.

The victim, 47, was talking on his cellphone at about 10:35 p.m. in the parking lot of the McDonald's at 105 Jericho Tpke. when Christopher Cruz, 22, approached him, police said.

Cruz punched the victim in the head, and the victim dropped his cane, police said. Cruz then picked up the cane and "began striking the victim in the head, upper torso, and left forearm," police said in a news release.

The victim had contusions and abrasions and was taken to a nearby hospital by Nassau County Police Ambulance.

Police found Cruz and arrested him a short time later, the release said.

Cruz, of 101 Jericho Tpke., is charged with robbery -- he took the victim's cane, police said -- assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.