A 25-year-old Queens man is facing burglary and assault charges after police say he forced his way into a closed Dunkin' Donuts in Williston Park, struck an employee who was handling a delivery, and then tried to make himself a cup of coffee behind the counter before fleeing from officers. Nassau County police say the confrontation unfolded just before 11 p.m. Thursday on Hillside Avenue, ending with a struggle several blocks away on Mineola Boulevard.
According to News12 New York, Nassau police say an unknown male entered the Williston Park store at around 10:40 p.m., while a 25-year-old employee was in the middle of handling a store delivery, per Daily Voice. Police identified the man as Senai Haywood, a resident of Jamaica, Queens. The employee told Haywood the store was closed and that he needed to leave, according to police.
Haywood allegedly refused, walked behind the counter, and began making himself a coffee, police say. When the employee tried again to get him out, Haywood struck him three times in the chest, according to police. The employee refused medical attention at the scene, though Haywood was later taken to a local hospital for an assessment.
Chase Ends in Struggle on Mineola Boulevard
Police say Haywood fled the store eastbound on Willis Avenue before detectives located him a short time later on Mineola Boulevard. When officers approached, Haywood allegedly ignored verbal commands and attempted to run on foot, according to police. What followed was a violent struggle in which he swung his arms and pulled away from officers before detectives were able to subdue him, per the Daily Voice account.
The Third Precinct of the Nassau County Police Department is headquartered on the same stretch of Hillside Avenue as the burglarized Dunkin', according to the Nassau County Police Department, which may help explain how quickly detectives were able to respond and track Haywood down. Haywood was ultimately charged with burglary, assault, obstructing governmental administration, and resisting arrest. He was arraigned at the First District Court in Hempstead, the countywide facility that handles felony arraignments and initial bail hearings across Nassau County, according to the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County.
What the Charges Could Mean
The charges Haywood faces carry serious weight under New York law. Burglary in the second degree is classified as a Class C violent felony, carrying a mandatory minimum of 3.5 years and up to 15 years in state prison upon conviction, according to the Law Offices of Jeffrey Lichtman. Assault in the second degree is a Class D violent felony punishable by two to seven years in state prison, per Perez Justice Law.
Incidents like this remain relatively rare in Nassau County, which U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked as the safest community in the country, with a violent crime rate of 143.6 per 100,000 residents, far below state and national averages, as reported by FOX 5 New York. Still, the Hillside Avenue commercial corridor has seen sporadic break-ins before; Newsday reported that in January 2024, an intruder entered a nearby restaurant through an unlocked rear door and stole $2,400. It remains unclear how Haywood gained entry to the Dunkin' Donuts while it was closed.
