Crimes Nearby: Lynbrook Man Charged with Rape in Violent Hempstead Home Invasion

The following information was supplied by the Lynbrook Police Department. A criminal charge is only an accusation, and does not indicate convictions.

A Lynbrook man has been arrested and charged with rape after a violent home invasion and robbery in Hempstead Sunday night.

Wiseallah Hightower-Castro, 24, of Lynbrook, was arrested several days after his alleged participation in the incident.

According to Nassau County detectives, around 11 p.m., a 22-year-old male victim went to visit his 47-year-old mother at her home on Grove Street in Hempstead. Also present at the time was a 44-year-old woman.

While in the upstairs apartment, the male heard a knock at the door and answered it, police said. An unknown black male suspect, approximately 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, displayed a handgun. Behind the first suspect were two other unknown male black subjects displaying knives.

According to police, the second suspect was approximately 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, and the third suspect was approximately 5-foot-10, 170 pounds. All three subjects then pushed their way into the apartment.

The victim’s pockets were then searched by the suspects who removed three cell phones and an unknown amount of cash, police said. The first and second suspect then took the 44-year-old woman into the bathroom and sexually assaulted her.

According to police, the remaining suspect then brought the 22-year-old victim to an apartment in the lower portion of the house occupied by two 50-year-old female victims. The suspect kicked in the door and ordered the victims to lie on the floor. While one of the women had her hands tied behind her back, the second woman began to suffer a seizure. The suspect searched the victim's pockets, removing a cell phone and an unknown amount of cash.

Shortly afterward, a 49-year-old woman stopped at the house and was confronted by one of the suspects, police said. She was ordered to lie on the floor while a cell phone and an unknown amount of cash were removed from her pockets by the suspect.

According to police, the 47-year-old woman managed to escape by jumping out a window. She ran to a neighbor’s house and notified police. Realizing one of the victims was not in the house, all three subjects then entered a black four-door vehicle parked on Grove Street and fled the scene in an unknown direction.

Lynbrook Crimes

Arrests

• Jan. 1 - at 9:55 p.m., Taylor C. Papa, 21, of Garden City, was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of marijuana on Scranton Avenue. Papa was also charged with marijuana possession on
• Jan. 1 - at 10 p.m., Jeannette Olivares, 35, of Rockville Centre, was arrested and charged with assault. The defendant was charged with assaulting a 15-year-old Hazel Place resident.
• Jan. 5 - at 1:32 a.m., Brandon J. Pitt, 30, of Hempstead, was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and an equipment violation for no tail lamp on Sunrise Highway.
• Jan. 5 - at 8:05 a.m., Tywelle D. Nelson, 23 of Valley Stream, was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle without a valid NYS Inspection (warrant) on Merrick Road.
• Jan. 5 - at 10:55 a.m., Elton M. Cobb, 52, of Laurelton, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct (warrant) on Merrick Road.
• Jan. 6 - at 6:12 p.m., Tamer F. Altinerlielmas, 33, of Massapequa, was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation (warrant) on Columbus Drive.
• Jan. 6 - at 9:05 p.m., Eugene Jackson, 45, of Springfield Gardens, was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation (warrant) and failure to obey traffic device. The defendant was arrested on Sunrise Highway.
• Jan. 7 - at 9:03 a.m., John J. Porzio, 39, of Lynbrook, was arrested and charged with menacing on Merrick Road. The victim is a 39-year-old female from Merrick Road.
• Jan. 7 - at 10:55 p.m., Schlisa A. Reddish, 26, of St. Albans, was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation, unregistered motor vehicle, improper registration plates, no insurance and no NYS inspection on Ocean Avenue.
• Jan. 9 - at 1:26 a.m., Daniel M. Dunlop, 22, of Valley Stream, was arrested and charged with Valley Stream Code 37S-1H for being in an Area Closed to Public (warrant).

Case Reports

• Criminal Mischief – At 12:05 a.m. on Jan. 2, the complainant reports that an unknown person(s) did damage the driver’s door and rear fender of their 2006 Ford which was parked on Denton Avenue. The total damage is $500.
• Petit Larceny - At 2:10 p.m. on Jan. 5, the complainant reports that an unknown person(s) did remove a Sony DVD Home Theatre System from their front door on Evergreen Avenue. The value of the system is $329.98.
• Identity Theft /Grand Larceny - At 5:45 p.m. on Jan.5, the complainant reports that an unknown person(s) did open an account with “Bill Me Later” in the complainant’s name and charged $3,264.46 worth of airline tickets from Delta Airlines.
• Petit Larceny - At 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, the complainant reports that an unknown person(s) did remove their prescription medication from their residence on Broadway.