Police capture gas station suspect

Lynbrook police arrested a local man with an extensive criminal record and charged him with holding up a Valero gas station in Valley Stream.

According to village police, just after 7 p.m. on Jan. 27, Andrew Alonge, 25, of Scranton Avenue in Lynbrook, entered the gas station, at 192 E. Sunrise Highway, brandished what appeared to be a gun and demanded money from two male clerks. He took cash and a cell phone, and fled east on Sunrise Highway.

According to Lynbrook Police Chief Joseph Neve, Alonge, who was wearing a black jacket with the hood pulled over his head and the collar zipped up over the bottom of his face, came into the convenience store of the station, pointed what appeared to be a black, semi-automatic handgun at one of the clerks and said, “Give me all the money — I’m not stupid!” The clerk placed about $100 and his own iPhone 5 in a black plastic bag that Alonge held out.

Allegedly, Alonge then turned to the other clerk, who was standing behind the counter, and demanded, “Give me all the money … pick up the drawer … give me the money!” That clerk also complied, handing over approximately $1,800. Alonge then fled the store, Neve said.

At 7:09 p.m., Neve said, Lynbrook Detective Christopher Skartsiaris, who had been alerted to the robbery, spotted Alonge at the corner of High Street and Scranton Avenue, just two and a half blocks from the gas station. Skartsiaris approached him and asked what he was doing, and Alonge replied, “I’m not doing nothing — you can’t stop me.” He turned to run, but was taken to the ground and handcuffed by Skartsiaris and 5th Precinct police officer Sarbrina Gregg.

A black BB gun fitting the description of the one used in the robbery was recovered nearby, and the money was recovered as well. Alonge was charged with second-degree robbery, and was arraigned on Jan. 28 at First District Court in Hempstead.