Suffolk Police: Man Dragged Woman Out Of Car At Red Light During Brazen Daylight Robbery

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Suffolk County man is accused of attacking a woman and trying to steal from her car as she sat at a red traffic light.

Suffolk County police said the woman was on her way to work just before 9 a.m. Tuesday and had just gotten off the Long Island Expressway at exit 56 in Hauppauge when a man walking in the street suddenly opened the driver's front passenger door and jumped in.

The man, identified by police as 34-year-old Richard Clinton, then stole belongings from the woman's car as she tried to fight him off, police said.

Police said Clinton then got out of the passenger seat, walked over to the driver's side and dragged the woman from the car and onto the pavement.

Clinton took more property from the car, which the victim again fought to get back in her possession, police said.

He then ran from the scene when witnesses began coming over to help the woman, authorities said.

Following a search of the area, police said officers found Clinton nearby at Joshua's Path and Motor Parkway. He was taken into police custody and transported to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore for narcotic drug use, police said.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

Clinton, whose last known address is in Medford, is charged with robbery, resisting arrest and criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said. There's no word on when he will be arraigned.