Police Raid Wally's Ice Cream Parlour, Store Shut By Health Dept.

Wally's Ice Cream Parlour in New City is shut this afternoon after a police raid on the Main Street shop and a Rockland County Health Department order putting it out of business.

Clarkstown police raided the store at 145 S. Main St. this afternoon and took at least one person into custody as they executed a search warrant. Police said the business has been part of an ongoing criminal investigation, however, they said details about the investigation could not yet be made public.

The longtime local business is at the corner of Main Street and Third Street, opposite St. Augustine Church and St. Agustine School. Yellow police caution tape closed off the walkway entrances to the ice cream shop this afternoon and a Health Department order posted on the door to the shop stated that it had been ordered to close.

Police said that in addition to the Health Department order, the business had received an eviction notice from the building's owner.

The broad daylight raid on the downtown store sparked a buzz in New City and the closing of the store brought quick reaction from New City residents.

"As the county Llgislator for this area and former president of the Little Tor Neighborhood Association which represents homeowners in central New City, I want to congratulate all our law enforcement and health department personnel for taking action to protect this community," said County Legislature member Ed Day, R-New City. "This is the precise reason we need to ensure that we never let our guard down, and continue to support the most aggressive efforts possible to protect our community. If having a establishment that serves our children ice cream shut down for alleged narcotics dealing and health code violations does not serve as a clarion call, I do not know what will."