Crack Cocaine Found On Dollar Tree Shoplifter, Police Say

NORTH LAWRENCE, NY — A Far Rockaway man is facing robbery and possession charges after police found what they believed to be crack cocaine on his person during an arrest, police said.

Nassau County police said 64-year-old Brandon McFadden was seen putting items into his bag at a Burnside Avenue Dollar Tree Saturday at 9:20 a.m., walking out of the store without making any attempt to pay for them. When a 41-year-old woman working at the store approached him, he shoved her to the ground and left, police said.

Shortly thereafter, police found McFadden in front of a building on Rockaway Turnpike and arrested him, police said. Further investigation of McFadden revealed that he had two glass pipes on his person, with a “white powder like residue believed to be crack cocaine,” police said.

McFadden is being charged with third-degree robbery and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police said. Court documents show that McFadden has pleaded not guilty to both charges.