LAWRENCE — A 40-year-old man was arrested early yesterday morning for allegedly using a hammer to hold up a South Union Street convenience store, and he is also a suspect in two other similar robberies in the area, police said.
The suspect, Robert Manzi, of 19 Heritage Lane, is the brother of Methuen Mayor William Manzi.
The mayor said yesterday that his brother is a drug addict who needs help.
"Too many families experience the pains and horrors associated with drug addiction and unfortunately that includes mine," the mayor said in the statement released on behalf of the family.
"This is a difficult time for our family as we deal with this very painful and private matter," Mayor Manzi said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with my brother and those who have suffered as a result of his addiction to drugs."
Police said Robert Manzi entered the Tedeschi's Food Shops store at 390 S. Union St., about 1:16 a.m. yesterday, carrying a hammer. He announced "this is an armed robbery and give me the money," according to police reports.
After he was given about $100, police said Robert Manzi left the store and drove away in a 1997 Toyota Camry that turned out to be registered to his father. Store workers got a license-plate number and provided it to police arriving at the scene.
Lt. Sean Burke and Detective Paul Rossi, believing the suspect might be heading to an area to buy drugs, drove to the intersection of Lowell and Margin streets, long known as "crack corner," where they spotted the car and pulled it over.
The officers found a large roll of money hanging out of Robert Manzi's left pant pocket, police said.
Methuen police Capt. Thomas Fram called Robert Manzi a "person of interest" in a similar incident at a Dunkin' Donuts at 40 Jackson St. a few hours before the Tedeschi robbery. A man wielding a hammer told a clerk there, "this is a robbery. Give me all of the money or I'll smash your head in." The clerk handed over the store's cash and he fled out the door.
"The two descriptions fit," Fram said.
Lawrence police Chief John Romero said Robert Manzi also is a suspect in the armed robbery of the Gulf Station at 235 Winthrop Ave., about 1:24 a.m. Wednesday.
The robber entered the gas station with a hammer and screwdriver and asked the clerk where the money was kept, then helped himself to an undetermined amount of cash from the drawer before fleeing.
"This is a difficult time for our family as we deal with this very painful and private matter," Mayor Manzi said in the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with my brother and those who have suffered as a result of his addiction to drugs."
Robert Manzi was ordered held without bail pending a hearing Aug. 5, to determine if he poses a danger to the community and should remain in jail pending trial.
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