A man and three juveniles were arrested in connection with an armed robbery early today that briefly netted them $8, police say.
Officer Andre Hill reported that Charles Melvin Gardner, 18, of the first block of E. Randall St., was walking alone in the 1300 block of S. Hanover St. shortly after 1 a.m. when a black Chevrolet Blazer stopped near him.
Hill said two males, one armed with a handgun, got out of the vehicle and ordered Gardner to give up his money.
After Gardner gave his wallet to the gunman, he asked that they take only the money and told them that he didn't want to go to the trouble of getting a new driver's license, according to Hill.
But the robbers kept Gardner's wallet, which contained $8 and got back into the vehicle, which sped off, police said.
Gardner reported the incident to police, who broadcast a description of the vehicle.
Shortly afterward, Hill and his partner, Officer Stephanie Drew, were patrolling near Harborplace when they spotted a black Blazer headed north on Light Street near Conway Street. The officers followed the vehicle and pulled it over at Lombard Street near Light Street.
The vehicle's four occupants were arrested without incident and a fully loaded .380 semiautomatic handgun was seized from the lap of a passenger in the back seat, Hill said.
Wardell Cook, 22, of the 2300 block of Chelsea Terrace, was charged with armed robbery, theft, assault by pointing a deadly weapon and possession of a deadly weapon, police said.
Charges against the three juveniles were pending, police said.