3 arrests in robbery and beating in Mastic Beach

Three teenagers were arrested and charged with robbing a pizza delivery man and stealing his car on Tuesday and beating a bicyclist with a baseball bat Friday night in Mastic Beach, Suffolk police said Sunday.

Police said Zachary Polini and Jules Bahler, both 16 and of Shirley, approached a Domino's Pizza delivery man on Floyd Road South in Mastic Beach, threatened him with a gun, demanded money and left with his car.

Then on Friday night, police said, Polini, Bahler and an unnamed 15-year-old male approached a man riding his bicycle in Mastic Beach and demanded money, then beat the man with a baseball bat. The three fled on foot and were caught near the corner of Hickory Road and Laurelton Drive after a Suffolk Police helicopter tracked them using thermal imaging capability, Sgt. Michael Tarulli said.

The three are to be arraigned today at First District Court in Central Islip. Each will be charged as an adult, Tarulli said.

A man who identified himself as Polini's grandfather said this morning that he was unaware of the incidents or the charges. Bahler's family could not be reached.

Each teen is charged with first-degree robbery and gang assault in connection with the Saturday night incident. Polini and Bahler are also charged with an additional count of first-degree robbery and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle in the pizza man robbery, police said.