TYNGSBOROUGH — Chief Richard D. Howe reports that the Tyngsborough Police Department arrested and charged a juvenile male in connection with an armed robbery of a convenience store on Wednesday afternoon.
On Wednesday, March 9, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Tyngsborough Police received a 911 call reporting that a male had robbed a convenience store at 168 Middlesex Road.
Officers and detectives responded immediately to the store, and learned that a male had entered the store, demanded cash, and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at a store clerk. The male then fled on foot toward Westford Road with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Officers Evan Donnelly and Edward Caissie saw a subject fitting the suspect’s description running toward Westford Road and through a wooded area and Bridgeview Condominiums. Officer Donnelly pursued the suspect, while Officer Caissie drove his cruiser to the area of 90 Westford Road, and approached the suspect from that direction.
The suspect was still carrying what appeared to be a handgun when Officer Caissie observed him behind a building, approached him, and ordered him to drop the weapon. The suspect dropped the weapon and informed officers that it was fake. He was taken into custody without further incident.
A subsequent, on-scene investigation identified the fleeing suspect as the individual who allegedly robbed the store. He was identified as a 14-year-old juvenile and was taken into custody. Police also determined the male was carrying a BB gun.
Police recovered the cash that was taken in the robbery.
The juvenile male is being charged with armed robbery and minor in possession of a BB gun. He is expected to be arraigned on Thursday in Lowell Juvenile Court.
“It is extremely difficult to tell the difference between a realistic-looking BB gun and a real firearm in these circumstances, and officers are required to make a split-second decision in these situations. I want to commend Officer Caissie and Officer Donnelly for applying their training and responding both quickly and professionally to this serious incident,” said Chief Howe. “The measured response of responding officers enabled us to make a quick arrest without anyone being harmed. This is why we train to de-escalate dangerous situations.”