Cops: Hempstead victim turns the tables on would-be robber

A robbery victim took a handgun from his masked assailant and then yelled for police early Sunday, foiling a robbery in Hempstead, Nassau County police said.

Neighbors heard the victim's yells for help and called police, who arrested Eric Candies, 29, of 39 Maryland Ave., Hempstead, on robbery and weapons charges, Third Squad detectives said.

Police said Candies, wearing a hood and mask, pulled a handgun on his victim, a 38-year-old man, at about 6 a.m. in the driveway of the man's Old Franklin Street residence.

Candies then took money and a wallet from the man and also put the gun to his victim's head and threatened to shoot him if he was not given more money, according to a police statement.

Candies found more money in the victim's back pocket, and the victim was able to grab the gun from him, police said.

As the victim yelled for help, Candies ran off, police said. He later was arrested "a short distance away" by Hempstead police, according to police.

Candies is charged with three counts of first-degree robbery, criminal use of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.