Five Men Arrested For Brutal Assault in Wantagh

Five men were arrested Tuesday night for a brutal assault that occurred at the Ok Gas Station on 767 Wantagh Ave.

An Eighth Precinct police officer arrived at the gas station at 7:33 p.m. to investigate a call about an assault that occurred earlier that evening. While the officer was speaking to the victim, who was a gas station employee, a green SUV sped into the gas station. Four men got out of the car and walked towards the gas station's convenience store, yelling derogatory terms at the victim, according to police.

The responding police officer commanded the men to remain outside, but was forced to intervene when two tried to enter anyway. Another victim of the earlier assault, an employee who was pumping gas when the men returned, then became the focus of the attack.

The gas station employee grabbed a 10-foot flagpole to protect himself as the men rushed towards him. The subjects then began to punch and kick the employee in the face and head as the police officer ran to help him. One man pulled the flagpole out of the victim's hands and struck him over the head with it.  

The officer was injured but was able to break up the attack, until one of the other men took a second flagpole and struck the victim again, knocking him to the ground.

Additional Eighth Precinct officers arrived at the scene and arrested the five men involved. Two of the men arrested were Christopher Makhmaltchi,19, of Seaford, and Nicholas Lazarus, 17, of Wantagh. Makhmaltchi was charged with two counts of third-degree assault. Lazarus was charged with one count of third-degree assault. 

The other three subjects arrested were members of the Vitale family of Levittown. Richard Vitale, 49, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault, fourth-degree possession of a dangerous weapon and second-degree obstructing governmental administration. Richard Vitale Jr., 20, was charged with second-degree assault, third-degree assault, fourth-degree possession of a dangerous weapon and second-degree obstructing governmental administration. Gregory Vitale, 21, was charged with third-degree assault and second-degree obstructing governmental administration.

The victim did not require immediate medical attention, the Eighth Precinct reported. The officer was treated and released at a nearby hospital. All five defendants were arraigned in First District Court on Nov. 3 at 99 Main St. in Hempstead.

The motivation for the crime is still under investigation.