Cops: Wantagh man charged in gas station robbery

A Wantagh man is facing robbery and other charges stemming from a gas station holdup late Thursday, Nassau County police said Saturday.

Seventh Squad detectives acting on an anonymous tip arrested Matthew Baldwin, 21, on Friday.

Baldwin was charged in the robbery of a Mobil Station at 1200 Wantagh Ave. shortly before midnight Thursday.

Armed with a black handgun, the suspect entered the station and demanded money. A clerk opened the cash register and the man grabbed the cash and fled in an older model Ford Explorer west on Jerusalem Avenue, police said.

Police charged Baldwin with first-degree robbery, reckless endangerment, possession of a dangerous weapon and fleeing police. He was also charged with unlawful possession of a radio device because he was scanning police frequencies as officers prepared to make the arrest, police said.

Baldwin was arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead Village and held on $50,000 cash bail. His next court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.