Man threatens store worker, fights with officers during arrest, police say

An Elmont man threatened an employee at an Garden City sporting goods store  by saying he had a gun, then struggled with officers who tried to arrest him Wednesday, Nassau County police said.

An employee at Champs Sports in the Roosevelt Field mall called 911 Tuesday after a customer argued with him over the method of payment and grabbed his waistband, stating he had a gun, police said.

On Wednesday, officers were at the mall to continue the investigation — at the same time the suspect, Geovaunni Faucher, 25, was also at the mall, police said.

Faucher ran from the officers and a short time later, he fought during his arrest, police said. One officer suffered cuts to his left hand and both knees and was treated at a hospital and released, police said.

Faucher of Sussex Road was charged with second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree obstructing governmental administration and third-degree menacing, police said.

 A temporary order of protection  was issued at his arraignment Thursday at First District Court in Hempstead, and he was being held on $25,000 bond, $15,000 bail, according to online court records. Attorney information was not available. He is due back in court Monday.