MEXICO – A 23-year-old Mexico man with a long rap sheet is in Oxford County jail, charged Thursday night with attempted robbery of a cash register, assaulting a police officer and other charges.

Joshua R. Pollis of Harlow Hill Road is accused of fleeing from the Big Apple on the River Road with a cash register and a woman’s purse about 8:37 p.m.

Mexico police Chief Jim Theriault said Friday that officer Dean Benson received a cut to his forehead when he tried to stop Pollis. Pollis was also sprayed with pepper spray when he tried to drive away in a vehicle not his own. A couple of patrons at the convenience store also tried to apprehend him.

Benson was assisted by Dixfield Sgt. Jeff Howe and Rumford’s Sgt. David Bean and officer Lawrence Winson.

Both Benson and Pollis were treated at Rumford Hospital. Benson then took Pollis to the Oxford County Jail where he remained Friday.

Theriault said Pollis was arrested on three charges of robbery, and one each of assault on a officer, failure to submit to arrest and assault on one of the people who tried to help Benson.

A spokeswoman from the Oxford County District Attorney’s office said Pollis is expected to be arraigned Tuesday, Jan. 20. He is being held on a total of $7,160 cash bail resulting from two superior court warrants, one Portland District Court warrant, and two Lewiston District Court warrants.

Theriault said he is scheduled to appear in Oxford County Superior Court on April 16.