Alleged Englewood Armed Robber's Nikes Lead To Arrest [video]

ENGLEWOOD, NJ - Police arrested a man accused of robbing Wides Liquors by identifying him from the sneakers he was wearing.

Charles “Darrell” Blain was charged with first-degree armed robbery for holding up the store at gunpoint Jan. 27, Detective Capt. Timothy Torell said.

A partially masked man entered the store at approximately 9 p.m. Jan. 27 and threatened two employees, including cocking back the hammer on the handgun he had, Torell said. The man was given $200 to $300 and fled the store, police said.

City police attempted to locate the man, but could not. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage of the man wearing a “distinctive” pair of Nike Blue Air Mirror Foamposite sneakers and a North Face coat, police said.

Through the officers’ investigation, including closing examining areas of the man’s face, Blain ”developed as a suspect” in the case, Torell said.

The department was “very familiar with Blain” and was aware of his criminal record, which included a murder conviction in New York city in 1989.

City detectives were searching for Blain at about 9 p.m. Saturday near a relative’s home in Teaneck when they saw him walking down the street; he was wearing the same kind of Nike sneakers that were allegedly worn during the robbery, Torell said.

Police questioned Blain and searched the relative’s home where they found the North Face jacket and ski mask used during the robbery, the detective captain said.

“The detectives in this case did an outstanding job in making sure a solid case and getting a very dangerous criminal off the street,” Torell said.

Blain was remanded to the Bergen County Jail on $250,000 full-cash bail.

Charles “Darrell” Blain/Englewood Police Department