Police Say Springs Robber in Custody

East Hampton Town police have a suspect in custody in connection with a robbery that took place over the weekend at Springs Wines and Liquors in the Springs hamlet of East Hampton.

Police said they arrested John X. Tracy III of King's Point Road, Springs, on Monday morning.

In a press release issued Monday afternoon, they said that a witness's description and video surveillance footage, as well as tips from the public, led them to Mr. Tracey, 19, whom they caught up with while he was driving on Norfolk Drive in Springs.

Mr. Tracy is suspected of being the person who walked into the Springs-Fireplace Road liquor store at about 4:50 p.m. Saturday and told a clerk he had a gun and wanted money. He did not show the clerk a weapon, but kept his right hand stuffed into his vest, indicating there was a gun in the pocket.

After taking $1,500 from the store's cash register, police said, Mr. Tracy left, heading west on Fort Pond Boulevard toward Three Mile Harbor Road.

Detective Lt. Chris Anderson said that Mr. Tracy was stopped while driving a 2004 gray Dodge Ram pickup truck at about 9:50 Monday morning after leaving his house. The truck was "used in the commission of the crime," Detective Anderson said.

Mr. Tracy is expected in East Hampton Town Justice Court on Tuesday to be arraigned on a single count of first-degree robbery, a class-B felony.

Police said the investigation was ongoing. They have asked that anyone with information phone them confidentially at 537-7575.