Cops: Man shoots own windshield during N. Long Beach holdup

A Freeport man who shattered his own windshield while holding up a clerk was arrested Monday, charged with two gas-station robberies in North Long Beach and Baldwin, Nassau police said.

Police said Anthony Candelaria, 23, of Brookside Avenue was arrested at 7 p.m., a little more than an hour after he robbed at gunpoint a Getty gas station at 4305 Austin Blvd. in North Long Beach.

During that robbery, he fired a shot that missed the station attendant but shattered the windshield of his black 1993 Nissan Altima.

The robbery occurred at 5:45 p.m., police said. Candelaria "repeatedly drove" up to the station, then pumped gas into the Altima, police said.

But instead of paying for the fill-up, police said Candelaria "produced a handgun and demanded money" from the attendant, then fired a shot.

He fled without the money, though he never paid for the gas, according to police.

A Fourth Precinct officer responding to the call recalled a similar incident on Thursday and the description of the car reported used in that crime - including a plate number. Police said Candelaria was not arrested following that robbery, which occurred at 5:15 p.m. at the USA gas station at 2350 Grand Ave. in Baldwin.

This time, the officer responded to the home address, saw Candelaria walking out of a marsh area on nearby Sigmond Street - and, after an investigation, arrested Candelaria.

He was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, two counts of first-degree criminal use of a firearm, first-degree assault and second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

He was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in First District Court in Hempstead.