Westminster police recovered three handguns and ammunition -- possibly used in a robbery attempt -- in a plastic bag at West Green and Bond streets Monday evening.

Police said they sent the weapons to the state police laboratory in Pikesville to be checked for fingerprints and other evidence to determine if one was used in the attempted armed robbery of a man as he walked toward his house in the 400 block of Avenel Circle about 2:30 a.m. Monday.

Three Baltimore County men were apprehended after they were seen speeding east on Green Street minutes after the assault, but no weapon was found in the automobile. A small amount of cocaine was found wrapped in paper, officers said.

David T. Fulton, 24, and Robert G. Cooke, 24, both of the 3500 block Carriage Hill Circle in Randallstown, and Antoine C. Gibson, 23, of the 2000 block of Park Trail Road in Woodlawn, were arrested and charged with assault with intent to rob, use of a handgun in the commission of a felony, assault and possession cocaine.

Mr. Gibson was released on $12,500 bond yesterday. Mr. Fulton and Mr. Cooke remain in the detention center, a spokesman said.

The victim, Daryl Smith, told police that a man wearing a hooded sweat shirt approached him, pointed a handgun at him and ordered him to lie on the ground. He said he ran and was chased by three men, but escaped and called police.

Two passers-by, who saw the incident, followed the car and told police about the crime after the vehicle was stopped on Washington Road.

POLICE

* Westminster: A resident of Buck Cash Drive reported someone stole property from the back of his pickup truck it was parked at a store near Englar Road on Sunday. He estimated the loss at $30.

FIRE

* Westminster: Firefighters from the Westminster station were dispatched to investigate a fire alarm in a building on Monroe Street at 6:22 a.m. yesterday. They were out for 25 minutes.