Police: Shirley man stole bike from Riverhead Walmart, tried to grab officer's gun in ensuing struggle

A Shirley man has been charged after he tried to take a Riverhead police officer's service weapon from its holster Friday while police were trying to question him about the theft of a bicycle, Riverhead Town police said.

Darrell W. Thomas, 34, was charged with attempted criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, petty larceny, obstructing government administration and unlawful possession of marijuana.

According to police, authorities were called at 7 p.m. Friday to the Walmart on Old Country Road in Riverhead on a report of a man taking a BMX bicycle from the store without paying. Walmart security personnel saw him traveling toward County Road 58 with the bicycle.

Shortly after, responding officers were alerted that a man at the Hess Mart gas station on the south side of the roadway, across from Walmart, was there with a new black bicycle.

Police said Thomas walked away from the bike as officers confronted him in the parking lot. He became combative as he was being interviewed, they said, and he tried to flee.

While officers tried to subdue Thomas, he began wrestling with them and tried to take an officer's gun, police said.

Bail was set at $10,000 cash, and he is being held at the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead, police said.