Alleged robber remains jailed
Toolbox
By Brent Curtis Staff Writer - Published: October 27, 2009
A North Clarendon man who allegedly robbed a Rutland convenience store Sunday and hid from police on Crescent Street answered to a felony charge Monday in Rutland District Court.
Barry McPhee-Loyzelle, 27, pleaded innocent to a charge of larceny from a person and was returned to jail for lack of $5,000 bail — an amount Judge Thomas Zonay said was low considering the risk that McPhee-Loyzelle might try to flee if released.
"The bail is about as low as it gets as the court can see in this case," Zonay said while granting the prosecution's bail request.
Police say McPhee-Loyzelle reached into the cash register at the Grove Street Short Stop and Go-Go Gas where he grabbed a fistful of $10 bills before fleeing the store.
But the getaway wasn't clean. Prompted by the screams of the cashier, a customer in the store and another employee pursued McPhee-Loyzelle, catching up with him in a driveway near 135 Grove St.
During the scuffle, the two men told police they tried to restrain McPhee-Loyzelle. But they said he wriggled out of a sweatshirt and T-shirt to get away. In the melee, McPhee-Loyzelle was injured, receiving a cut to the forehead which he pointed out to the judge in court.
City police Officer Frank Post and his canine partner, King Bricks, followed the robber's scent using the discarded clothing.
The scent trail ended at the basement door of 115 Crescent St. After warning shouts went unanswered, Post said he released Bricks into the basement. Within seconds, Post said McPhee-Loyzelle emerged from hiding with his hands up.
Post said McPhee-Loyzelle told police that he thought they were the two men who chased him from the store and he initially denied stealing any money.
But when confronted about his honesty, McPhee-Loyzelle allegedly told Post he had taken a single $10 bill from the register.
brent.curtis@rutlandherald.com
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