Cops: Man charged in attempted deli heist

A Center Moriches man was arraigned on a felony charge of attempted robbery after he tried to use a BB gun to rob a Speonk deli Sunday, Southampton Town police said.

Elvis Tinti-Chajon, 22, went into Peppercorns Deli at 305 Montauk Hwy. at about 6:37 p.m., displaying a handgun and telling employees and customers he was going to rob them, police said.

However, police said an employee and other customers distracted Tinti-Chajon and escorted him out of the deli without incident.

When police arrived they found the suspect, armed with the BB gun, in the immediate area and arrested him, according to a news release.

He was arraigned on charges of first-degree attempted robbery, a felony, and criminal possession of a weapon Monday and is being held at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility on $10,000 bail, police said.