By:Angela Marshall
Charged in seven crimes dating back to February
A chance glance on the streets of Freeport led to the arrest of a Rockville Centre man for the robbery of Baldwin's North Fork Bank Wednesday, June 27. Before the day was over, Brian Quinn of Graystone Avenue was charged in five other robberies and one attempted robbery, ending a long police investigation.
Freeport Police Officer Shaw Randell was off duty June 26 and waiting for his partner on Brookside Avenue when he spotted a shirtless man running in his direction. "He just looked suspicious," Randell said. "He had somewhere to go in a hurry."
A few minutes later, Randell happened upon the scene of a robbery at Freeport's Bank of New York. When fellow officers told him the robber's description - stocky, white male in his 20s with tattoos - Randell said "I just saw him on Brookside Avenue."
The next day, Randell was on duty when a call came in that the North Fork Bank in Baldwin had just been robbed. The description was identical.
The officer took a chance that the suspect would head back to the same location and stationed himself on Brookside Avenue. "A short time later, here he comes strolling up," Randell said.
He placed Quinn, 25, under arrest. Police have linked him to additional robberies, including one pedestrian, two at the Woods Avenue Candy store in Oceanside and one at the Milk Stop Deli in Baldwin. He was also charged in an attempted pedestrian robbery June 21.
The total take of the six completed robberies was $4,400. Police recovered $1,060 at the time of the arrest.
According to police, Quinn entered both banks wearing a wig and a hat, stood in line and handed the tellers a note. A wig and hat were found discarded outside of both banks. After the Freeport robbery, Quinn also removed his shirt.
Nassau County Detective Gary Schriffen said it is possible Quinn will be linked to additional robberies. "It is not a closed issue."
Police are also checking into the possibility that a second person was involved in some of the robberies.
Quinn was arraigned June 28 and was to appear again in court July 2. He could not be reached for comment.
