Witnesses say James Carver carried a stick and covered his face with his shirt.
By Mark LaFlamme
Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Talk about a stickup.

Police say a man carrying a stick and using his shirt to hide his face attempted to rob a downtown store Friday night.

James Carver, a 20-year-old transient, was arrested roughly 15 minutes after an employee at Quality Market on College Street reported she had been threatened by a man who demanded money.

He was charged with robbery and violating probation.

The witness told police the suspect entered the store about 8 p.m., red shirt pulled up over his face.

Police said Carver was carrying a thin, two-foot long piece of wood with a point at one end when he walked into the market at 145 College St.

The employee did not give the suspect any cash, police said. Instead, she told her boss about the incident as the would-be robber fled the store.

The owner of the store searched the area while police were on their way to the scene. Witnesses said the suspect was last seen heading down College Street toward Sabattus Street.

Minutes after they arrived, police spotted a man matching the description of the robbery suspect near another store at College and Sabattus streets.

Carver was taken back to Quality Market where he was identified by a witness. He was arrested and taken to the police station for questioning.

“It was good team work all around,” said police Lt. Mike McGonagle. “The witnesses gave good descriptions and the officers swarmed all over the area.”

No one was hurt during the attempted heist. Police said they recovered the stick near Quality Market.

Carver was taken to the Androscoggin County Jail where he was expected to remain until he makes an initial court appearance next week.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com