Robbery Charges Filed Against Enfield Man In January Case

ENFIELD, CT — A lengthy investigation into a January robbery claim resulted in a warrant arrest of a local man Monday night.

Xavier McFarlane, 23, was charged with first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. He was held in lieu of a $200,000 court-set cash bond and arraigned Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court, where his bail was dropped to $50,000. He posted a surety bond and was released, according to judicial records.

On Jan. 8, a police officer patrolling the area of Bigelow Commons spoke with a man who said he was going to be selling a pair of Jordan Toro 4 sneakers for $320, in a sale arranged online through the OfferUp app. Shortly thereafter, the man again sought out the officer and said he had just been robbed, Police Chief Alaric Fox said.

The victim told police he was waiting in a vehicle at Bigelow Commons for the prospective buyer when a man, later identified as McFarlane, approached the vehicle and got in. Another man approached the car, pointed a gun at the victim's head and took the man's money and cell phone, Fox said.

The victim ran away, and while fleeing, he saw three men going through his car. He was picked up by a female acquaintance, Fox said.

In addition to his cell phone, valued at $500, a bag of boxing gear worth $350 was also taken from his vehicle. In a statement to police, the man said he was initially hit over the head with the gun; however, he declined medical attention, Fox said.

An extensive investigation, including a study of social media and Snapchat messages, yielded McFarlane as a suspect. The victim was shown a photo lineup, and he picked out McFarlane, Fox said.

A warrant was signed by a judge, and around 10 p.m. Monday, police sought out McFarlane at Bigelow Commons, but a family member falsely claimed he was not there. McFarlane was then taken into custody, Fox said.

He is due to return to court March 30.

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