Sometimes, people find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although this might sound like a cliche, this type of situation has put countless innocent people behind bars. Often, police are far too eager to arrest anyone in the vicinity of a crime who remotely resembles the suspect. A recent incident involving a robbery in Charlestown raises this type of concern.
Police Arrest Man Who Walks Out of Apartment After Nearby Robbery
In late December of 2024, numerous sources reported that two men in their 40s had been arrested for allegedly robbing a store in Charlestown at gunpoint. The Boston Police said that they responded to a report of an armed robbery at a local market but arrived after the suspects had fled. The store owners then provided detectives with surveillance footage, and the police began to search the area for anyone who matched the description.
While “canvassing the area,” police observed a man exiting an apartment building and immediately placed him under arrest. They later stated that this man matched the description of one of the alleged robbers. The police then knocked on the door through which the man had just exited, and another man answered. Police arrested him as well, later stating that he also matched the description of one of the robbers.
One of these individuals reportedly gave police a false name during his arrest, which led to additional charges. Both now face charges of armed and masked robbery.
Few Details on the Nature of the Arrest
Perhaps the most detailed account of the arrest comes from the Boston Globe, which stated that the man who exited the apartment had just started to ride his silver scooter. One has to wonder why someone would go for a leisurely scooter ride immediately after robbing a store, as a scooter is not exactly an ideal getaway vehicle. The Globe also stated that immediately after being apprehended by police, the man on the scooter admitted that his friend was inside the apartment.
Again, this is slightly unusual behavior for a seasoned criminal. One has to wonder whether this man was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The truth is that no one actually saw him carry out the robbery, and whoever did it was wearing a mask at the time. None of these reports explained how the defendant matched the man in the surveillance footage. Was he wearing the same clothing? Does he have a similar height? These details are not clear. The Globe even subtly implied that these men might have had something to do with other robberies in the area – despite having no evidence to back this up.
Can a Massachusetts Defense Attorney Help Me?
If you were arrested after a robbery in your neighborhood and you had nothing to do with it, consider a consultation with an experienced defense attorney in Massachusetts. While it is true that the prosecutors must prove your guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt, this burden of proof has not stopped countless wrongful convictions in the past. To learn more about your next steps, schedule a consultation with Edward R. Molari today.