On October 20, 1981, a three-year crime spree in the New York metropolitan area ended at this site when members of the Weather Underground, a radical domestic terrorist group, robbed a Brink's armored car at the Nanuet Mall. Using high-powered weapons, they stole 1.6 million dollars and shot and killed security guard Peter Paige. At this entrance to the New York State Thruway, the Nyack Police Department set up a roadblock and was ambushed by the assailants, leading to a fierce shootout. Sgt. Edward J. O'Grady, Jr. and P.O. Waverly "Chipper" Brown were shot and killed, all the suspects were apprehended, and subsequent trials in Goshen and White Plains led to their convictions.
