Man Charged in Southington Armed Robbery Also a Suspect in Milford: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The man arrested for robbing a Southington store is also a suspect in local incidents, police said Friday.

The man failed to post a $250,000 bond and remained in custody on Friday while awaiting his next court date in about two weeks, according to judicial system records.

Police released more details on the Southington case Friday. On Wednesday, at 7:43 p.m. an employee of the Country Farm Convenience Store at 682 West Street in Southington reported being robbed at gunpoint, police said.

The store clerk reported a light skinned black male wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, black face mask, held up a black pistol as he entered the store and told her “give me the money,” police said.

The clerk handed over about $200 from the register and the suspect fled the store on foot, police said.

A short time later, Michael Harris, 29, whose last known address was Meadow Street in Naugatuck, was taken into custody without incident by members of the Naugatuck Police Department in Waterbury, police said.

Harris was wearing the same clothing as described. A a mask, a black pistol and cash were also seized at the time of his arrest. Harris was transported to the Southington Police Department where he was charged with first-degree robbery, and sixth-degree larceny. Harris was held on a $250,000 surety bond and was arraigned in Bristol Superior Court on Thursday for the Southington charges, according to court records,

A judge maintained the bond and Harris was sent to a lockup, judicial system records indicate. He is due in court again on Feb. 16, court records indicate.

Police said Harris is a suspect in many other robberies along the Interstate-84 and Route 8 corridors and beyond, police said.

Police said that, beginning last November, a rash of armed robberies began to occur along the corridors. As of Thursday, 19 armed robberies were committed since late fall in Naugatuck, Waterbury, Torrington, Derby, Shelton, Middlebury, Southington, Milford and Winsted, police said.

A joint investigation among law enforcement officials from the towns is ongoing and additional arrests are expected, police said.

Anyone with additional information regarding the crimes they can contact the respective local police department, Southington police said.

Photo Credit: Southington police