Jennifer Tabakin, Town Manager
Town Hall
334 Main St.
Great Barrington, MA 01230
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Contact: Chief William Walsh Jr.
Phone: 413-528-0306
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Great Barrington Police Arrest Three in Connection With Gas Station Robbery
GREAT BARRINGTON– Chief William Walsh reports that the Great Barrington Police Department arrested three men yesterday in connection with a gas station armed robbery.
FRANCIS SCOT TAIKOWSKI, JR., AGE 25, OF WARRENSBURG, N.Y. is charged with:
- Masked Armed Robbery
- Assault to Commit Armed Robbery
- Larceny Under $250
MICHAEL L. THORPE, AGE 35 OF GREAT BARRINGTON is charged with Accessory After the Fact.
JEREMY BABCOCK, AGE 28, OF HOUSATONIC is charged with Witness Intimidation.
Shortly after 3 a.m. on Monday, March 13, Great Barrington Police responded to a panic alarm at the South Main Street Mobil XTRA Mart on Route 7.
Upon arrival, officers learned that a man wearing a black ski mask came into the store with a bag over his hand, waving it in a manner that indicated he might have a firearm. The man pressed the bag against the clerk and demanded money. He then fled the store with an undetermined amount of cash.
Later, the clerk was able to identify the suspect as TAIKOWSKI, and a warrant was secured for his arrest.
On Tuesday, March 14, around 4:30 p.m., a Great Barrington officer was on patrol when he spotted the suspect’s vehicle on Main Street. The officer then proceeded to conduct a motor vehicle stop, and pulled the car over on Maple Avenue.
Police found TAIKOWSKI hiding in the trunk of the vehicle. He was placed under arrest.
The operator of the vehicle, identified as THORPE, and a passenger, identified as BABCOCK, were also placed under arrest.
TAIKOWSKI was held at the Great Barrington Police Department on $30,000 bail pending his arraignment at Pittsfield District Court.
BABCOCK and THORPE were each held on $1,000 bail at the Great Barrington Police Department. They were released Wednesday morning and are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday at Southern Berkshire District Court.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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