Metropolitan Transportation Authority detectives have charged a Bronx man with robbery, saying that in East Hampton last month, he stole money from another train rider and then brandished a knife in his face.
East Hampton Town police caught up with the alleged attacker, Andre Mantuck, 44, on Aug. 12, and charged him with the violent felony. He is being held at the county jail in Riverside.
The alleged victim, an Amagansett man whom police did not identify, called East Hampton Village police last month to report that while he was using the restroom aboard the train, a man had sat down next to his belongings. When he asked the man to hand him his bag, he found $800, his identification, and a hat missing.
He then attempted to stop the man from leaving the train at the East Hampton station, he told police. According to their report, that was when Mr. Mantuck “brandished a knife . . . and exited the train.”
The victim called 911, and also did attempt, without success, to follow the man. At the time, even with the help of a Southampton Village police dog and drones deployed by both village and town police, Mr. Mantuck was able to elude authorities, who tracked him down a month later.
He is charged with first-degree robbery, a class B felony; third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class D felony; second-degree menacing; and fourth-degree criminal mischief, both misdemeanors.
East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky arraigned Mr. Mantuck last week and set bail at $25,000 cash, $50,000 bond, or $75,000 unsecured bond. Village police took custody of him after he failed to make bond. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office transported him to jail last Thursday, where he remains as of press time.
If convicted of the most serious charge, robbery, Mr. Mantuck could face up to 25 years in prison.
