Good Samaritan attacked after picking up pistol dropped during fight, police say

A pistol was dropped during a fight between two men at a Caribbean restaurant in Uniondale on Tuesday, and one of the men was charged with assaulting a good Samaritan who picked it up, Nassau police said. 

Police said Kevin Allen, 50, of Roosevelt, also was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, robbery and criminal obstruction of breathing.

Police said the fight began shortly after 1 p.m. when a man who knew Allen approached him in line at the Golden Crest Restaurant at 540 Jerusalem Ave. As they argued, the man pulled a black pistol from his waistband and pointed it at Allen, but the gun fell to the ground, police said in a news release.

The good Samaritan picked up the gun “for safekeeping,” police said, and Allen’s antagonist, who police did not identify, ran away. 

Then, police said, Allen attacked the good Samaritan from behind, choking him, taking the gun and running out the restaurant's back door. Police did not identify the good Samaritan. His injuries were treated at a hospital, they said. 

Allen was arrested shortly after 3 p.m. less than a quarter of a mile away from the restaurant at Edgemere Avenue and Linwood Street when someone called authorities seeking medical attention for him. A police spokeswoman would not discuss the reason for the call or say if he had suffered injuries in the fight.

Police recovered a loaded defaced black Lorcin L380 handgun, according to the release. 

Allen was arraigned Wednesday in First District Court in Hempstead and he was held on $30,000 bond or $15,000 cash, according to online court records. The court also issue a temporary order of protection. Allen is represented by the Legal Aid Society Of Nassau County and his next court appearance is Friday.