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Nassau County Police Arrest Man For Alleged Rape During Break-In Robbery In Hempstead

MINEAOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) - Nassau County police say they've arrested one of three men they were looking for following a shocking break-in and sexual assault Sunday night in Hempstead.

Police say Wiseallah Hightower-Castro, 24, of 2 Sparks Place in Lynbrook faces rape, robbery, burglary and more charges.

The incident went down on Grove Street. That's when a masked gunman knocked on the door, joined to by two knife-wielding cohorts.

They shoved their way into the apartment, robbing three victims of their money and cell phones.

That's when two of the men grabbed a 44-year-old woman, dragged her into a bathroom, and sexually assaulted her.

"(They) forced (her) into a bathroom where it's alleged that she was sexually assaulted by two of the men simultaneously, a significant assault," Det. Lt. Raymond Cote told CBS2's Kathryn Brown.

One of the victims, a 22-year-old man, was taken downstairs to an apartment occupied by two 50-year-old women. Once again, the women were robbed of cell phones and cash. One of the women started to have a seizure during the robbery.

A 47-year-old woman being held upstairs seized the opportunity to leap out a window and ran to a neighbor's house. They called the cops.

That's when the bandits took off.

Police are still hunting for Hightower-Castro's two alleged accomplices.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

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