A Hempstead man was arrested for robbing a Freeport deli after he repeatedtly returned to the scene of the crime early Sunday morning, Nassau police said.
Kenneth Brassfield, 27, punched a store clerk in the face inside Stop Rite Deli on Bayview Avenue after the victim attempted to prevent him from shoplifting beer at 3:41 a.m., according to 1st Squad detectives.
Brassfield left the store but returned a minute later, found the victim on the phone with 911 and punched him again, police said. The suspect then left again and returned to the store for a third time, as Freeport police officers were taking a report from the victim.
Brassfield ran away but was apprehended a few blocks away about a half hour after the initial report. The victim was treated and released from South Nassau Community Hospital.
Brassfield was charged with robbery and will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Monday.