Robbery Spree Cut Short By Brave Employee: Nassau Police

HICKSVILLE, NY — A man trying to rob a Hicksville restaurant was stopped and held by an employee until his arrest, police said.

According to police, just before 3 a.m. on Oct. 2, Maxwell Thomasson, 21, of Massapequa, walked into Crown Chicken and Grill, located at 357 S. Broadway in Hicksville. Thomasson walked up to the 26-year-old man working at the store and handed him a note demanding money, police said. Thomasson said he had a gun, but did not show it, according to police.

The employee complied and gave Thomasson the money, police said. But as Thomasson was trying to leave the restaurant, police say the employee grabbed him and pulled him to the ground, holding him there until police arrived.

No one was injured.

Police say that an investigation found that Thomasson was also responsible for the robbery of a gas station in North Massapequa at 1:30 a.m. that same day.

Thomasson was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery. He was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Sunday, and was ordered held on bail of $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond, which was not posted.