Maine news, sports, weather from Waterville Morning Sentinel

Police arrest robbery suspect after pursuit

Man allegedly attacked victim, tied her to bed, took money

By Amy Calder acalder@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

WATERVILLE -- A man reportedly robbed, assaulted and tied an Oak Street woman to a bed Thursday before police nabbed him while he was trying to flee town in a taxi.

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Garon Crosby

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Waterville police including Sgt. Joe Shepard, front, gather on Kennedy Memorial Drive following a foot chase where a man was apprehended on nearby Nelson Street in connection with a robbery and assault.

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Garon Lee Crosby, 24, was arrested and charged with robbery, police Chief Joseph Massey said.

Thursday's series of events started about 1:30 p.m., when the woman reported she had just been assaulted by a man who had tied her up, threatened her with a knife and stolen a large amount of her money from her -- more than $1,000, according to Massey.

She told police she was able to untie herself quickly and watched the man walk from Oak Street to College Avenue, Massey said.

She gave police a description of the man, whom she said she has known a while.

Earlier Thursday, she had cashed some checks and had a large amount of money. She said the man grabbed her, assaulted her, tied her up and stole her money and cell phone, Massey said.

Police learned a local cab had picked up a man matching Crosby's description who asked to be taken to the bus station on Airport Road, Massey said.

Officer Michael Sellar stopped the cab on Kennedy Memorial Drive, near the Prompto oil service shop, and approached the vehicle, knowing the man possibly was armed, Massey said. The man got out of the cab and Sellar arrested him.

"All of a sudden, he yanked loose of Officer Sellar, and Sellar lost his balance and ended up falling to the ground," Massey said. "He had a small laceration on his knee, on his elbow and face."

The man ran across four lanes of traffic on Kennedy Memorial Drive, Massey said. Knowing other officers were in the area, Sellar did not pursue him across the busy road, Massey said.

Detectives Chris Paradis and Dave Caron saw the man on Nelson Street, when he saw the detectives get out of a car, he surrendered, Massey said.

When police ran a criminal check on Crosby, they learned he was charged in Mississippi in January with possession of controlled substances and in 2005 was charged with burglary in that state, Massey said.

In addition to the robbery charge, Crosby also was charged with refusing to submit to arrest or detention and violation of conditions of release, Massey said."We arrested him last week for operating after suspension, and he was bailed; and as a standard restriction on bail, he's not to engage in further criminal conduct," he said.

Crosby was taken to the Kennebec County jail in Augusta and is scheduled to appear in Kennebec County Superior Court in November, Massey said.

Massey commended police for their work Thursday.

"It was just a very quick response by our officers. They did a good job. They all took different approaches when he (Crosby) was on foot."

The chief said the woman who was assaulted was taken to the hospital after the incident.

"She was treated for small bruises on her neck and arms where she had been struck and choked," he said. "He had tied her to the bed with some kind of cloth strippings."

Police do not know yet why Crosby allegedly assaulted and robbed the victim, nor do they do not understand the nature of the relationship between the two, other than that they had known each other for a while, according to Massey.

He said Sellar is OK. Detective Alan Perkins took over the case and is checking Crosby's background, including how long he has been in the city.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com