Woman wanted in store robbery tried to grab officer's gun, police say

A Far Rockaway woman is accused of robbing a department store Friday and resisting arrest by trying to grab the gun of a police officer, Nassau County police said.

Debra Allenby, 56,  removed the tags from and stole a wallet from the Burlington Coat Factory store on Rockaway Turnpike in Inwood about 9:25 a.m., according to police. Store management did not report that incident to authorities.

Allenby returned to the store at 2:30 p.m. and employees recognized her, police said. A store manager tried to approach Allenby, who reportedly refused to stop and exited the store. A patrol officer found Allenby in the parking lot, where she resisted his commands, police said. 

"Allenby physically engaged the officer, placed her hand on his firearm and attempted to remove it," police said in a news release early Saturday. She was subdued and arrested.

The officer was treated at a hospital for cuts and scrapes on his forearms and elbows, then released, police said.

Allenby is charged with second-degree robbery, third-degree assault, two counts of  petty larceny, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration, police said. 

She was arraigned Saturday at First District Court in Hempstead. Bail was set at $50,000 bond or $25,000 cash, according to online court records.

Her attorney could not be reached for comment.