Lynbrook man had stolen handgun, cops say

A Lynbrook man arrested in East Rockaway has been charged with possession of a stolen handgun, Nassau County police said Sunday.

Andrew Ardison Gardner, 27, of 107 Prospect Ave., who was arrested Friday, was also charged with criminal possession of stolen property.

According to detectives, shortly after 10:30 p.m. Friday, Fourth Precinct patrol officers responded to Dairy Barn, at 560 Atlantic Ave., after receiving a report of a suspicious male in the parking lot.

After police arrived at the scene, a man matching the description fled on foot northbound through backyards on Denton Avenue, and a foot pursuit that included Lynbrook police officers ensued, authorities said.

A short time later, Lynbrook officers, who were called as backup, located Gardner near the corner of Phipps Avenue and Davison Plaza and arrested him in a rear yard on Phipps, authorities said.

An investigation revealed Gardner had a loaded Sig-Sauer .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun that had been reported stolen from Pennsylvania, police said.