Stamford Robbery Suspect Caught Following Foot Chase; The Getaway Driver Is Nabbed in Norwalk

A career criminal is in Stamford Police custody on charges he pulled a gun and robbed a West Side grocery Wednesday morning.

The suspect was caught by two officers who cornered him in a driveway near the West Main Street Grocery and an accomplice was caught in Norwalk where he fled in a rental car, according to police.

Stamford Police said it was shortly after 10 a.m. that a man later identified as Francis Manigault, 41, of New York City, entered the West Main Grocery Store at 495 West Main St. and announced a robbery. The suspect then pulled out a black handgun, racked the chamber and pointed it at the clerk, police said. At that point the clerk turned over a sum of money to the robber who then took off running East on West Main Street.

The clerk called police and a description of the robber was broadcast to the patrol division. A short time later Officer Edward Perez observed an individual fitting the description walking in the area of West Main and Virgil streets. The man spotted Perez and took off running north on Virgil Street, according to police.

Perez saw the man throw a loaded handgun on the sidewalk and when Officer Christopher Friel arrived, they cornered Manigault in a Virgil Street driveway, police said. At this point the gun was secured and he was arrested without incident.

Police said they found Manigault had the money stolen from the grocery and a business card from a Norwalk rental car agency. It was determined that he rented a vehicle in Norwalk and with help from the agency, police said they were able to track the vehicle and that was being driven by a possible co-conspirator.

The vehicle was tracked traveling north on I-95 and Norwalk Police Department were notified. Stamford and Norwalk Police stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Old Trolley Way and Wilson Avenue, police said.

The driver was identified as Tajah Dash, 19, of 69 Meadow St, Norwalk.

Dash and the vehicle were brought to Stamford Police headquarters. Members of the department’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Crime Scene Unit were dispatched to process the various scenes and determined that the weapon that Manigault had was stolen in South Carolina and that he may be a suspect in other robberies in the Fairfield County area, police said in a statement.

Manigault was charged with first-degree robbery, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Criminal Use of a Firearm, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. He is being held on $250,000 bond and will be arraigned on Thursday, police said. According to police, “Manigault has an extensive criminal (history) dating back from 1989. He has been arrested for numerous narcotics, larceny, resisting arrest charges both in NYC and South Carolina.”

Dash was charged with Conspiracy at first-degree robbery. His bond was set at $5,000 bond.

In a statement, Stamford Police praised “the excellent performance of (Officers) Perez and Friel for pursing and arresting an armed lifelong criminal. Their performance and arrest most likely solved other robberies in the area and they got an armed felon off the street which ultimately prevented more crimes by this individual. Also, we would like to thank Norwalk PD for their cooperation in assisting in the arrest in their jurisdiction.”

Photo: #1: Tajah Dash, left, and Francis Manigault; #2: The motor vehicle stop of the robbery suspect’s car in Norwalk. Credit: Norwalk Police via Instagram; #3: the loaded Glock that Stamford Police confiscated. Credit for photos 1 and 3: Stamford Police.