GOOGLE MAPS PHOTO | A red marker shows the location of a second reported mugging in Riverhead in less than 24 hours.
Less than a day after a man was beaten in an attempted armed robbery in Polish Town Friday, a second victim has been mugged at gunpoint less than five blocks away, Riverhead Town police said.
The reported victim — identified by police as Baldomero Cujon Cotzoj, 33, of Calverton — was walking south on Griffing Avenue just north of the railroad tracks about 10 p.m. Friday when he was approached by two men, police said. One of the men grabbed him and displayed a handgun while the second man stood at his side, according to a police statement.
The armed man demanded cash from the victim, and then beat him in the head several times with the butt of the handgun, police said. The two men ran off in an unknown direction without taking any cash from the victim, according to the statement.
The victim called police, who arrived at the scene with the Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The man was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center, treated for non life-threatening injuries and released, police said.
The armed robbery was the second reported mugging in that area in less than 24 hours.
About 6:15 Friday morning, a Riverhead man was held at gunpoint by a man and a woman, then beaten over the head with a rock while walking to work on Sweezy Avenue near Pulaski Street, Riverhead Town police said.
The two suspects in that robbery ran off when a car passed by. No money was stolen in that robbery either, police said. Friday morning’s victim walked home to call police, and was later taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center with facial, head and shoulder injuries, police said.
Police did not say whether detectives believe the two incident are related or not. The investigations into both reported crimes are ongoing, according to police.
Anyone with information is asked to call Riverhead Police at (631) 727-4500 ext. 313.
