PORTLAND (AP) — A New York City man who got out of a police cruiser after his arrest in Maine and reached for an officer’s gun has been sentenced to 8½ years in prison.

Fitzgerald Carryl, of Brooklyn, N.Y., pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegal possession of a firearm, reckless conduct and attempted theft. In exchange, prosecutors dropped charges of escape and assault on a police officer.

The prosecutor said Carryl and another man came to Maine last October to rob drug dealers in Portland.

Carryl was arrested after his vehicle was pulled over and police found a gun in the glove box.

Chief Michael Sauschuck said the “win or die “ordeal could have ended in tragedy.

The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/14GvM8r ) reported that Carryl apologized to God, his family, and Maine in court.