LI Crime Briefs

SOUTHAMPTON/Councilman cleared in dispute with contractor

Southampton Councilman James Malone has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an incident involving a contractor, according to the town's police chief, William Wilson.

The investigation stem- med from a dispute in which building contractor Anthony Prosano said he was hired by Malone to renovate the inside of a Hampton Bays house owned by Malone but was taken off the job and not paid for work done.

At one point, Prosano alleged that Malone kept him in the official's county office against his will.

Wilson said his office conducted an investigation and found that "it wasn't criminal conduct."

The Southampton Police Department also alerted the district attorney to the town's investigation, and Wilson said the DA "concurred with our conclusion."

Prosano said he started the job in early November, and that insulation he had installed passed inspection later that month. The contractor and a co-worker worked 55 hours in the next three days to put up 80 boards of drywall in the 850-square-foot home on Anderson Avenue, according to Prosano.

-- STACEY ALTHERR

JAMESPORT/Cops: Suspect zapped victim in robbery attempt

A would-be robber repeatedly zapped a Jamesport gas station attendant with a stun gun early yesterday while rifling through his pockets, police said.

The man got no money. He fled and was later arrested with the help of a canine unit, police said.

Devine D. Poole, 20, of Roslyn Heights, was charged with attempted robbery and criminal possession of a weapon, according to Riverhead police, which patrol Jamesport.

He was ordered held on $50,000 bail at his arraignment.

Police said the attempted holdup happened at 1:22 a.m. at the Valero gas station on Main Road.

The attendant told police the robber demanded money. When the attendant refused, he said he was zapped "several times" with the stun gun.

-- MATTHEW CHAYES

WANTAGH/Man charged in gas station holdup

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

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, police said. 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.

Baldwin was arraigned yesterday in First District Court in Hempstead Village and held on $50,000 cash bail.

-- KEITH HERBERT