By Anthony Rifilato
that ended in a frantic car chase and shootout in Baldwin more than a year ago, an incident that had several communities and school districts on edge.
Keith McAllister, 22, of 206 New York Avenue in New Cassel, was the fourth man arrested in connection with a number of armed robberies in Nassau County in 2005. Police said he is one of five men who fled police after attempting to rob the Bank of America on Grand Avenue.
It was a day that had several schools in the area, including Baldwin, Rockville Centre, Oceanside, and Freeport - among others - on lock down, and the incident rocked the normally quiet Baldwin community. It happened on Nov. 21, 2005, when five men - who police said were linked to a number of robberies in Baldwin, Hempstead, Westbury and other towns - pulled up to the Bank of America at 2300 Grand Avenue, which police said they were attempting to rob.
Undercover police spotted the five men in a Buick Regal just after 9 a.m., triggering a car chase that ended on Marion Place when the suspects' car crashed into a tree. The men exited the car, and one, Paul Henry, pointed a .38-caliber revolver at police, who opened fire. No one was injured as the five men fled the scene, which set off a large-scale search of the area that included police snipers and an aerial helicopter unit.
Police quickly nabbed Henry, a 57-year-old Hempstead resident, on a nearby street in Baldwin. They also arrested Akeem Robinson, of Westbury that day. Erwin Jackson, 46, of Hempstead was later arrested at his home on Nov. 22.
On Feb. 28, 2007, police nabbed McAllister at his home and have charged him fourth degree conspiracy, a felony.
"That whole crew is responsible for a bunch of robberies," said Det. Sgt. John Giambrone, adding that Henry and Robinson were also responsible for robbing the Majesty Casino Ship in Freeport that year. Police said the men also robbed a Citibank in Westbury and the North Fork bank on Grand Avenue - in addition to other robberies in the area - though McAllister was only charged in connection with the incident in Baldwin.
"We were able to - through a canvass of the area and going over the crime scene - gather evidence that linked Mr. McAllister," Giambrone said. "He remained in the area, but I don't think he was aware that we would connect him. He was arrested without incident."
Police said that Henry and Jackson were the older members of the crew, acting as leaders to the younger three. Some of the men would force customers to lay on the floor, Giambrone said, while the others cleared out the money from the teller.
"They were dangerous individuals," Giambrone said. "They had a routine, where they would not stay in a bank for more than three or four minutes. They were practiced and organized."
Henry, whose charges included second degree criminal possession of a weapon, was convicted and sentenced to 30 years, while Robinson plead guilty and is currently serving two years in prison. Jackson was recently convicted, Giambrone said, and his sentencing is scheduled for April 17. All three were charged with first-degree attempted robbery, in addition to the Majestic Casino robbery and other charges.
Police are still searching for one more suspect and are asking anyone with information to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
