Man Allegedly Robs State Line Tobacco, Flees to Nearby Apartment

After allegedly holding up last week, an Alston, MA, man managed to walk a few doors down only to be seen by witnesses and eventually arrested by the .

Daniel C. Lee, 30, listed at 98 Chester St., Alston, MA, was arrested at 11:05 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at 23 Stafford Road. He was charged with second-degree robbery.

Officers responded about an hour and a half earlier to a robbery that took place at the store, according to Lt. Patrick Jones. The female clerk told dispatch a heavy set white male in an orange hooded sweatshirt, wearing glasses, approached her, demanded money and pushed her away from the cash register. All told, Jones said he took approximately $1,800 and took off.

"Officers were able to speak with witnesses that were inside the store who claimed to recognize the person who did the robbery as a local individual," Lt. Jones said.

Witnesses directed police to the rear of an adjacent apartment complex at 19 Stafford Road where the man, later identified as Lee, was last seen walking around. After doing check, they found a man who matched the description.

"They brought him back to the store and did a 'show up' on scene with the clerk, who positively identified the guy," Jones said.

Lee reportedly had over $1,000 in his possession and police later seized the remainder upon doing a consent search of the apartment.

Jones credited Sgt. Scott Beaulieu, Officer Aaron Kay, Officer Joe Wieszbicki and Officer Chris Riley for the investigation.