Hempstead, NY - May 7, 2018 - Third Squad detectives report the arrest of a Mineola man for an incident that occurred on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 12:55 am in Hempstead.
According to detectives, Francis Ellis, 58, drove up to the drive thru window at Taco Bell, 490 Peninsula Boulevard, exited his vehicle, lunged into the window, grabbed the drive thru attendant and then attempted to take the stores cash register. After unsuccessfully being able to remove the register, Ellis then reentered his vehicle and fled the scene.
At 1:30 am, Ellis was pulled over by a Third Precinct officer for a traffic infraction, was found to be wanted for an unrelated domestic Grand Larceny incident and was placed under arrest.
During his arrest processing detectives recognized Ellis as the same subject that was involved in the earlier Taco Bell incident.
Ellis is charged with Burglary 3rd Degree, Attempted Robbery 3rd Degree, Grand Larceny 3rd Degree and two (2) Vehicle & Traffic Law violations. He was arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead on 5/5/2018.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.