Skateboarder robbed in East Meadow; 1 arrested

A 14-year-old boy riding his skateboard with a friend near an East Meadow elementary school was robbed by a 21-year-old man who punched him in the face and stole his iPhone, BlackBerry and skateboard, Nassau County police said Monday.

The robbery took place Friday at 10 p.m. near the Parkway Elementary School, police said. Police said Michael Whitnack, 21, of 380 Bernice Drive, East Meadow, was arrested in the robbery at 1 a.m. Monday.

The skateboard was recovered during the arrest, police said. Whitnack was charged with second-degree robbery and is scheduled for arraignment Monday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said Whitnack approached the victim as he skateboarded, grabbed him by the shoulders and "demanded he empty his pockets."

Whitnack then stole the iPhone and BlackBerry, punched the 14-year-old in the face - and took his skateboard, police said. The boy did not require medical attention, police said.