Baldwin man faces weapons charge

A Baldwin man faces a weapons-possession charge after Hempstead police found him with a stolen, loaded handgun Monday morning in Hempstead, Nassau County police said.

A witness told a Hempstead officer on patrol that he had seen a man with a weapon near Main Street and Stowe Place around 3:30 a.m., according to a news release.

Third Squad police then stopped Paul Smith, 35, of 3 Willow Park Court, and found him with a loaded, 9-mm. handgun. Further investigation revealed that the handgun had been reported stolen in Virginia, police said.

Smith is charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of stolen property.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead.