Arrest in rob attempt with tree branch

A Ronkonkoma man who armed himself with a tree branch Thursday night in an attempt to rob a Central Islip 7-Eleven was chased off by the clerk and customers before he was caught by an off-duty Nassau County police officer, Suffolk County police said.

Michael Zimmerman, 31, entered the 7-Eleven at 128 Carleton Ave. about 11:30 p.m. and demanded money from the clerk, police said. Zimmerman was refused and then struck the clerk with the branch several times.

The clerk and some customers chased Zimmerman into the parking lot, where he tried to leave on his motorcycle, police said.

But a Nassau officer driving by saw the group chasing Zimmerman and blocked his getaway with his vehicle, police said.

The officer subdued Zimmerman and held him until Suffolk officers arrived, police said.

Zimmerman, of 294 Fir Grove Rd., was arrested and is charged with attempted robbery. He was scheduled to be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Central Islip.