PD: Serial Knifepoint Robber Arrested

Photo/SCPD
Thirty-year-old Shane Cashmore, inset, was arrested Monday outside the Carvel at 1840 New York Ave. in Huntington Station, which he earlier entered with a knife and demanded money, according to Suffolk police. He is believed to be responsible for 17 other knifepoint robberies across Long Island since February.

By Jano Tantongco
jtantongco@longislandergroup.com

The suspected serial knifepoint robber who targeted 18 stores across Long Island since February was arrested Monday in Huntington Station.

Shane Cashmore, a 30-year-old homeless man, was apprehended by police at around 9:40 p.m. outside of the Carvel at 1840 New York Ave. after he entered the ice cream shop with a knife and demanded money, according to Suffolk police. Two accomplices, Paul Drab, 26, and Julianna Pantaleone, 31, both of Levittown, were also arrested as suspected accomplices.

Before the three left the scene, they were arrested by officers of the Nassau Police Robbery Squad and Suffolk Police Major Case Unit, who were conducting a joint investigation.

Pantaleone, Cashmore’s girlfriend, was getting ready to inject heroin at the time of the incident, according to published reports.

Briefly speaking with reporters outside of Second Precinct on Tuesday, Cashmore called himself a heroin addict when asked about his motivation for the robberies.

At a press conference earlier that day Suffolk Police Commissioner Timothy Sini said the robbery spree was brought to an end through collaboration between Nassau and Suffolk police departments, including through “intelligence sharing, daily conversations and meetings and leveraging resources.”

“We are glad to bring this spree to an end,” he added.

The arrests marked the end of the spree that began in February and spanned both Nassau and Suffolk.

The trio were all charged with numerous counts of first-degree robbery. They were arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip.

Later on Tuesday the Carvel was quiet except for the mechanical whir of ice cream freezers. Kevin Sung, who owns the location with his family, said the incident happened so quickly that it was over before he realized it began.

“It seemed like the police were already onto him before he got here. All in all, I think they did a pretty good job of finding and arresting him,” Sung said. “The guy didn’t have a chance.”

With Additional Reporting By David Weber