A York County grand jury has indicted four suspects accused of robbing a 16-year-old at gunpoint in September outside a Dunkin’ Donuts in Saco where he worked.
The robbery was allegedly arranged by the teen’s co-worker at the doughnut shop on Main Street, Saco police said.
The victim had sold a gaming computer to a friend for $1,400 cash a few days before the robbery and had shown the cash to several of his co-workers, according to an affidavit filed by Saco police in York County Superior Court.
Four suspects have been indicted by the York County Grand Jury on charges of robbery with a firearm and conspiracy in relation to an alleged robbery in Saco in September. Top row, from left are Kayla Haley and Taylor Mann. Bottom row from left are Brian Patch and Eric Soletto.
After an investigation, Saco police charged four people: Eric Soletto, 25, of Biddeford; Taylor Mann, 22, of Biddeford; Brian Patch, 24, of Dayton; and Kayla Haley, 21, of Old Orchard Beach. All were indicted on felony armed robbery and conspiracy charges.
Through use of surveillance cameras, police said they put together a timeline showing that late in the afternoon on Sept. 10, Mann, who also worked at Dunkin’ Donuts, and Patch left the business and met near Patch’s car outside. When they returned to the shop, Patch began speaking to the victim.
Exactly 30 seconds later, a man, whom police have identified as Soletto, entered Dunkin’ Donuts through the main door. He looked around inside and then left the shop to stand in a nearby parking lot. Police said Mann then told the victim to take out the trash, and as the victim was leaving for the dumpster behind the shop, Mann used his cellphone to text someone.
Police said Soletto then confronted the victim near the dumpster and brandished a Glock-style handgun. Police said he cocked the granite-colored slide and pointed it at the victim’s head.
“Give me what you have,” Soletto told the victim, the affidavit said.
The victim, with his hands in the air, told Soletto there was plenty of money in the store.
“No, what you have on you,” Soletto said, pointing to the victim’s pocket.
The victim turned over the $1,400 in cash and returned to the shop to report the robbery. Police said Patch then told the victim he would go outside and search for the robber.
Piecing together surveillance footage from multiple businesses and locations surrounding Dunkin’ Donuts, investigators said they determined that after the robbery, Patch’s vehicle left the scene. He later admitted to detectives that he drove from Dunkin’ Donuts to Old Orchard Beach, where he dropped off Soletto.
The role of the fourth suspect in the robbery, Haley, was unclear. She was not mentioned in the police report filed in Soletto’s case.
The suspects are scheduled to stand trial later this year.
Ed Pierce can be contacted at 282-1535 or at:
editor@journaltribune.com
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