Cops: Lakeview man had loaded gun in car

A Lakeview man was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and other charges after his car was found running outside a West Hempstead business Sunday with a loaded handgun on the seat, Nassau police said.

Shortly after 5 a.m., detectives said, an officer saw an unoccupied vehicle belonging to Wilder V. Merelan, 24, of 294 Coventry Rd., with its lights on, stereo playing and door open. He was charged with drunken driving and a loaded black handgun was found on the car seat. Merelan is to be arraigned Monday at First District Court in Hempstead.