Suspect sought in Ditmars cleaners hold up

ASTORIA — Police were asking the public to help identify a suspect wanted in connection with robbing the Astoria Cleaners earlier this month.

The suspect, described as a black man about 6 feet 1 inch tall, was wearing a hooded sweatshirt when he entered the cleaners on 31st Street around 6 a.m. Jan. 9, police said.

When inside, he allegedly pointed a shotgun at an employee before hitting her in the head and taking off with cash in his black Volkswagen, according to the police.