Police: Man demanded cigar at knifepoint

A South Floral Park man who returned to a gas station with two knives after a clerk refused to give him a cigar was arrested Friday on attempted robbery charges, Nassau County police said.

Kirk Spencer, 28, of Louis Avenue, entered Liberty Gas Station, 653 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont, about 9:15 a.m. and asked a 47-year-old male clerk for a cigar. However, Spencer told the clerk he would pay for the cigar later, police said.

The clerk refused, Spencer left but returned a short time later with two large kitchen knives and demanded the cigar, police said.

Again, the clerk refused, and Spencer fled on foot, police said. The clerk called 911 and Fifth Precinct officers found Spencer a short distance away and arrested him.

Police charged Spencer with attempted robbery and criminal possession of a weapon. He was scheduled to be arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.