Two arrested for store robberies in Lewiston, Greene

LEWISTON — Police say two men were arrested Friday after they robbed convenience stores in Greene and Lewiston on Christmas morning, displaying a weapon to clerks both times.

Chief Deputy William Gagne at the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department said the first robbery happened at 12:35 a.m. at the Big Apple store at 1198 Lisbon St. in Lewiston when a man robbed a clerk after showing a weapon.

The second robbery happened four hours later at the Circle K in Greene. There a man showed a weapon and made off with an undisclosed amount of money, Gagne said in a news release.

After the Greene robbery, “Deputy Randy Williams passed a vehicle matching the description on Main Street in Lewiston and the vehicle was stopped,” Gagne said. “The occupants of the vehicle matched the description of the suspects in the Greene incident as well as the suspect in a robbery in Lewiston earlier in the morning and they were taken to the Lewiston Police Department for questioning.”

Tyler M. Barnard, 25, of 133 Spring Street in Auburn and Stanley B. Laurinaitis, 27, of 562 Pottle Hill Road in Minot were both charged with two counts of robbery. They were being held Friday night at the Androscoggin County Jail on $30,000 bail and their vehicle has been impounded pending further investigation.

“This is another great example of how area law enforcement agencies work together,” Gagne said.