Police: Detectives arrest man with gun in waistband in Merrick

A Freeport man was arrested on weapons charges after Nassau County police narcotics vice squad detectives working an investigation in Merrick spotted a gun in his waistband Sunday, police said.

Alvin Brooks, 32, of Best Street, was arrested at 8:50 p.m. and charged with second-degree and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Police did not release the arrest location.

Brooks is scheduled for arraignment Monday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said that the detectives were “conducting an investigation” in an undisclosed area when they spotted Brooks and what appeared to be handgun with a black handle “in his waistband.” A loaded Hi-Point 9-millimeter handgun was recovered during the arrest, according to police.

Additional information was not immediately available.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”