WYANDANCH MAN INDICTED FOR VIOLENT ARMED HOME INVASION IN CENTRAL ISLIP

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the indictment of Beresford Hall, 44, of Wyandanch, who is accused of forcibly entering a Central Islip home with a gun while a family was inside, pistol whipping a teenager, zip-tying multiple family members, and stealing $6,000 in cash and jewelry.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe within their own home, and this defendant is alleged to have violated that essential right,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This was a violent home invasion robbery. Thanks to the dedicated work of the Suffolk County Police Department getting to the location quickly, no one was seriously hurt. I also applaud K9 handler Police Officer Lawrence and K9 Officer Rafeh for apprehending the defendant when he fled the home. This was a textbook example of good police work.”

According to the investigation, on April 8, 2023, Hall was armed with a handgun when he allegedly ran up to a man while he was opening the front door of a home. Hall put the handgun in the victim’s face and pushed him into the home. The man’s girlfriend, who was not home at the time, observed Hall forcibly entering the home through a doorbell notification on her cellular phone and called 911. The defendant then forced the victim and the victim’s girlfriend’s 19-year-old and 16-year-old sons to lay on the floor face down. Hall then allegedly zip-tied two of their hands behind their backs, and pistol whipped the 16-year-old boy. The defendant continued to steal over $6,000 in cash and jewelry, a wallet and car keys, and threatened the other occupants of the home, including a 10-year-old and a 4-month-old baby. Upon realizing the home was surrounded by members of the Suffolk County Police Department, Hall cut the zip-ties off of the victims, and in doing so, cut their hands with the knife. Hall then allowed all the victims to leave the house one by one before walking out of the home. Members of the Suffolk County Police Department ordered Hall to place his hands behind his back, however he fled on foot before being apprehended by law enforcement with the assistance of K9 Rafeh.

At the time this crime occurred, Hall was indicted in Onondaga County for five counts of Robbery in the First Degree, after he allegedly held up an auto parts store, two convenience stores and a gas station in Syracuse, New York. Hall was also charged in Onondaga County with Criminal Possession of a Weapon, after a loaded hand gun was found when police officers conducted a search of the defendant’s home after the robberies occurred. He was released on $200,000 bond. Those charges are still pending in Onondaga County.

On April 24 2023, Beresford was arraigned on the indictment by acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz for the charges of:

• One count of Robbery in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
• One count of Burglary in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
• Three counts of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony;
• Three counts of Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor;
• Three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor; and
• and Resisting Arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.

Judge Horowitz ordered Hall held on $500,000 cash, $ 1 million bond, or $3 million partially secured bond. Hall is due back in court on May 18, 2023, and is being represented by Jeremy Scileppi, Esq.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Pamela J. Bloomfield of the Major Crime Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Kirsten Reilly of the East End Bureau.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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