Police seek suspect in attempted robbery
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating an individual responsible for an attempted robbery at a local grocery store on Sunday.
The PIPD received a call from a Graves Shop ‘n Save employee around 3:39 p.m. on March 29 stating a “male subject wearing a blue coat with a hat and big sunglasses with a gray and blue backpack was just in the store and asked someone at the customer service desk to change his $1. The girl opened the drawer, then asked for his dollar. He asked her for all the big bills in the drawer, but she shut the drawer and he left, running towards Main Street.”
About the same time, a highway department employee called stating he’d had a confrontation with the male subject in the Walmart parking lot.
According to the police log, the highway department employee said the male came up to him, claiming he had a flat tire. In an effort to help, the caller stated he “got out (of his vehicle) to look and the tires were fine.” The man advised the problem was on the other side, so the caller looked under to see the other side and all were fine as well.
“The man said ‘look, I just need your truck.’ I said ‘no’ and got back in and the man took off,” said the caller, noting at that time an employee from Graves came up over the bank looking for the suspect. The caller indicated he last saw the individual climbing the snowbank behind Verizon.
Sgt. Eric Erickson and Officer Ryan Eagles, both of the PIPD, responded to investigate. Witnesses described the man as wearing a gray hoodie sweatshirt, black scarf, beard, sunglasses and was about 5-feet 10-inches tall, weighing around 180 pounds.
In checking with nearby businesses, Erickson determined the man stopped at Subway to use the bathroom, then exited through the back door. Erickson also checked the China Pearl and O’Reilly’s but did not locate the suspect at either establishment.
At this point in the investigation, the PIPD contacted the Maine State Police, requesting a trooper and K-9 to assist in tracking the individual.
Eagles worked his way south along Main Street, questioning an individual near the Irish Setter Pub, then continuing on the Freshies/Gulf where it is believed the suspect stole a soda. A person at the gas station advised they saw the man leave the store and head south.
Police checked at McDonald’s, then went as far as Academy Street but were unable to locate the suspect.
When the K-9 team arrived, they began their search behind the Oriental Pearl. State Police advised they’d “check a guy close to the five-way (intersection at Dyer and State streets) who was wearing a black jacket” — noting it could have been turned inside out. That man also had a backpack and beard, but according to the police log, that individual turned out not to be the man being sought by police. The last reported sighting of the suspect was at the Shell station on Parsons Street.
Also assisting in the investigation was Officer Kevin Reed of the PIPD and Deputy Rob Thibeault of the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.
In an effort to locate the suspect, the PIPD shared two stills taken from surveillance videos at Graves and Walmart on the department’s Facebook page. Viewers were encouraged to share the post in hopes of locating the individual.
Erickson said Monday that the case remains under investigation.
“We’re reviewing surveillance videos from several area businesses, including Graves, in an effort to identify this person. Anyone with information is asked to call the PIPD at 764-4476,” said Erickson.
