WEST BRIGHTON — A man beat and tried to rob another person inside the elevator of an assisted living facility after he demanded a cigarette, prosecutors said.
William Anderson, 56, was inside an elevator with another 52-year-old resident at the Lakeside Manor Home for Adults, at 797 Brighton Ave., at about 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, according to his criminal complaint.
He told the man "Give me a cigarette," then punched him in the head and reached into his pockets, prosecutors said.
Anderson didn't get any property from the victim and was arrested outside the building about 20 minutes later, police said. Officers found a crack pipe on him.
He was charged with assault, attempted robbery and attempted petit larceny at his arraignment, the Staten Island District Attorney's office said. His bail was set at $5,000, according to online court records.
His lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Anderson previously spent three years behind bars after he was convicted of arson in Brooklyn, according to the Department of Corrections. He was released on parole in 2005.
Other notable crimes in Staten Island include:
► A man smashed his friend's SUV with a shovel because of an argument about money, a law enforcement source said.
The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe was parked in front of 758 Post Ave. when Farrukh Afzal, 36, took a shovel to it at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, prosecutors said.
Afzal destroyed the rear driver-side window, trunk window, side view mirror and driver door, according to his criminal complaint.
The damage totaled more than $250, police said.
Police caught up with Afzal less than 30 minutes later and arrested him at the corner of Flody Street and Dubois Avenue.
Afzal was charged at his arraignment with criminal mischief, menacing, criminal possession of a weapon and harassment, the DA's office said.
He was released without bail and issued an order of protection, court records show.
Contact information for Afzal's lawyer was not immediately available.
► A man was arrested after he stole six vacuums and an espresso machine from two stores, prosecutors said.
Matthew Caglistro, 26, worked with others to swipe the items from the Target, at 2750 Veterans Road West, and Home Depot, at 2750 Veterans Road West, Nov. 11 and 12, according to his criminal complaint. The items were worth nearly $3,500, police said.
Caglistro was arrested on Thursday and charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and petit larceny at his arraignment, the DA said. His bail was set at $7,500 bond, $3,500 cash.
Agusut Chinnici, 53, was arrested in December for his connection to the robberies, prosecutors said.
Information for Caglistro's lawyer was not immediately available.
