WESTFIELD – City police have arrested an Indian Orchard man who admitted he is responsible for the armed robbery a week ago of J.J.’s Variety store on Franklin Street.
On Monday, Nov. 4, an owner of the store reported that a customer who had made a small purchase produced a handgun which he pointed at her head while demanding money.
The woman, who owns the store with her husband, told police that she backed away from the open register with her hands raised and the man helped himself to the cash drawer and fled with the money he scooped from it
During the investigation, police reviewed the security videos from establishments in the area and were able to identify the vehicle to which the suspect fled with his loot which had some unique identifying features.
On Wednesday afternoon, Det. Timothy Grady reported that he had spotted what he believed to be the getaway vehicle operating on Franklin Street and a uniformed officer, Steven Carrington, stopped the car. The driver was identified and the victim of the robbery subsequently picked him out from a photo array she was shown.
Armed with the suspect’s identification, officers were able to secure a warrant and, Det. Sgt. Stephen K. Dickinson said, the task was narrowed down to determining where to seek the suspect who was associated with several addresses.
Friday evening, Dickinson led detectives Anthony Tsatsos and Daniel Gustafson to a Centre Street address in the Indian Orchard neighborhood of Springfield where, with assistance from police in that city, Darnell Lee Bynoe, 33, of 232 Centre St., Springfield, was taken into custody.
Dickinson said that Bynoe and his girlfriend were interviewed and both admitted to responsibility for the robbery.
After a courtesy booking at Springfield police headquarters, both suspects were transported to Westfield. Bynoe was arrested for armed robbery and, Det. Lt. David Ragazzini said, a criminal complaint will be filed against the woman.
Bynoe is expected to be arraigned in Westfield District Court on Tuesday, after the Veteran’s Day holiday.
