Police

Police: Greenport man arrested for beating 74-year-old mall cop

Greenport man attacks mall security guard in Woodmere
Steven Pirrera

A Greenport man was arrested Saturday for assaulting a 74-year-old mall security guard in North Woodmere, Nassau County Police said.

Steven Pirrerra, 36, pulled the victim out of his security guard vehicle in the parking lot of Five Towns Shopping Center on Rockaway Turnpike at about 3 p.m. Saturday, threw him to the pavement and punched him in the head and face, police said.

Mr. Pirrerra had lost keys hours earlier and was “upset that the security guard wasn’t able to find” them, police said in a statement.

The guard had previously tried to get away from Mr. Pirrera after he had earlier tried to enter the security vehicle, according to police.

Police said the guard, who was transported to a local hospital soon after the attack, complained of “pain throughout his body” and was later treated for a laceration above his eye.

Mr. Pirrerra was charged with second degree assault at his arraignment Sunday, police said.