Suspect Concealed $10K Up His Sleeve

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A man with a bulging arm was arrested after police found more than $10,000 in cash in his sleeve, money allegedly stolen from a Long Island post office, authorities said Wednesday.

John Howard, 36, of Coram, was stopped by police on Tuesday after he was observed behaving strangely on a street in Shirley, said Suffolk County Police Detective Lt. James Maher. Howard was wet and dirty and had a large bulge protruding from his left sleeve, he said.

In addition to finding $10,203 in cash — ranging from $1 to $100 bills — wrapped in a towel up his sleeve, Maher said police found crack cocaine and a BB gun that resembled a real firearm on Howard's body.

Howard allegedly robbed the Wyandanch post office of more than $12,000 on Monday, Maher said.

The robber entered the post office at 2:15 p.m., flashed a pistol and vaulted the counter. He then a displayed a note and forced employees to empty their cash drawers and open the safe. He fled on foot.

Howard was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance. He also could face federal charges because the robbery involved a federal facility, Maher said.

Howard was scheduled to be arraigned later Wednesday in First District Court in Central Islip.

Following an investigation, police said Howard also was charged in connection with two earlier armed robberies, said Lt. Gerard Gigante. The first occurred on Jan. 4 at the Fashion Bug store in Middle Island where $700 was taken, and the second was on Nov. 2, 2005, at the Town Express Mart in Mastic where he allegedly stole $500 and a cell phone.