Hempstead man faces drug, weapon charges

A man who ran from officers investigating a prior crime was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Uniondale, charged with drug and weapon possession, Nassau County police said.

Fritz D. Guirand, 25, of 27 Beverly Rd., Hempstead, was arrested at 4:38 p.m. inside the Abreu Deli on Front Street in Uniondale, police said.

He was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. He faces arraignment Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said First Precinct officers on patrol spotted Guirand outside the deli, but said he ran when the officers approached him to ask him about "a prior crime." The nature of that crime was not disclosed.

But, police said, officers followed Guirand into the deli, where a subsequent search found he was in possession of a loaded .357-caliber Ruger pistol, as well as a bag of cocaine and a bag of marijuana. He was arrested without incident, police said.