Patchogue shopkeeper fends off armed robber

A knife-wielding robber came out on the wrong end of the blade Tuesday in Patchogue, police said, when an unarmed shopkeeper decided to take him on.

Ana Ramones, 29, an owner of A&E Multi Services, 239 E. Main St., suffered no more than a minor strained arm muscle, police said, after her struggle with Kristian Falterman, 31. He had come into the store demanding money and produced a knife, police said.

The store, located in a small shopping plaza, caters to those making wire transfers of money, purchasing phone cards and shipping items, said Det. Sgt. Bryan McMeney of the Fifth Squad.

Falterman went into the store and lingered for some time before he went behind the counter about 2:25 p.m., police said. He took out a knife, and demanded money from Ramones, the only other person there at the time.

She initially gave him money from the store's two cash registers, police said, but before he got back around the counter she acted.

"She grabbed his arm with the knife," McMeney said, "and that's where the struggle began." By the time they reached the front door, she was able to get the knife away from him and throw it outside, police said, as the two wrestled in the doorway.

A man passing by came to Ramones' aid, police said, and held Falterman until police, alerted by the store alarm system she had triggered, arrived.

Ramones went to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue as a precaution since she came in contact with a large amount of blood.

Falterman, with no known address, was treated at the hospital for significant knife wounds to his fingers after he was arrested by Suffolk police and charged with robbery.

"His injuries were pretty severe lacerations to his fingers from the knife," said McMeney. "She was able to grab it out of his hand, but as she was doing it, he tried to grab it back, and had the wrong end of the knife."

McMeney added: "If someone points a weapon at you and asks you for the money -- your life's more important than the money. But that being said, she was brave . . . but the police department would definitely not recommend that to anyone."

Falterman was to be arraigned Wednesday in First District Court, Central Islip. Attempts to reach Ramones Tuesday night were unsuccessful.