Fall River man pleads not guilty, held without bail, after robbing/attempting to rob three city stores within a half hour

A 46-year-old Fall River man charged with allegedly robbing/attempting to rob three city stores within a half hour has been held without bail after pleading not guilty at Tuesday’s arraignment in Fall River Superior Court.

According to Det. Sergeant Moses Pereira, at just after 10:00 a.m., on July 18th, units responded to the Maplewood Mini Mart on Stafford Road regarding an armed robbery.

Responding Officers were advised that a white male wearing a green t-shirt and green hat entered the business and demanded money from the cash register.

After obtaining an undetermined amount of money from the cash register, the man left the business in an unknown direction.

At just after 10:15 a.m., while officers were still speaking with the clerk at Maplewood Mini Mart, a second robbery was reported at County Convenience on County Street.

Officers who responded to that location were advised that the suspect was a white male wearing a green t-shirt and green hat.

According to the clerk, the man told him that he was robbing the store and instructed him to open the cash register.

Shortly after this, the clerk alerted a third party that his store was being robbed and asked them to contact the police. This spooked the individual and caused him to flee the store.

While investigating the robbery at County Convenience, officers were able to identify the vehicle being used by the suspect, a white minivan.

Shortly thereafter, at just before 10:30 a.m., a third call came in reporting that a
male in a green t-shirt and green hat had entered the Family Dollar on Stafford Road and asked for all the money in the cashier’s drawer.

When asked to clarify his statement, the suspect indicated he just wanted to see her reaction and he left the business. The clerk explained that the man left the business in a white
minivan.

The information was relayed to officers who were already in the area searching for the potential suspect. A short time later, Officer Jennifer Deleon located a white minivan being operated by a white male wearing a green t-shirt and green hat, in the area of Huard Street and Albert Street.

The suspect was subsequently taken into custody without incident.

45-year-old William Bruce of Fall River was indicted on September 26th on Armed Robbery and 2 counts of Attempt to Commit a Crime.

Bruce was held without bail pending the result of Tuesday’s dangerousness hearing.

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for November.