Taunton Police arrest man in connection with violent armed robbery

TAUNTON — Chief Edward J. Walsh reports that the Taunton Police Department arrested a man on Friday in connection with an armed robbery that occurred at a gas station last week.

On Wednesday, June 22, Taunton Police responded to the GeKo gas station, located on Weir Street, shortly before 8:30 p.m. for a report of a robbery. Upon arrival, officers were met by the store clerk, suffering from an apparent hand injury sustained in the incident.

During the preliminary investigation, responding officers learned that an adult male suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Christopher Azevedo, of Taunton, allegedly robbed the store and fled on foot with the store’s cash register.

The clerk was taken to Morton Hospital and has since been treated and released.

Taunton Police received multiple tips from the public and through the subsequent investigation identified AZEVEDO as the suspect. Taunton Police then applied for an arrest warrant for Azevedo, which was issued on Friday, June 24.

Azevedo was charged with Armed Robbery While Masked, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, and Malicious Destruction of Property.

Azevedo was arraigned yesterday in Taunton District Court. Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M Quinn III’s office requested this defendant be detained as a danger to the public due to the seriousness of the case. He is currently being held in jail pending the results of an upcoming dangerousness hearing in Taunton District Court.

“This was a violent armed robbery, which resulted in injury to the clerk, who was just trying to do his job. My office will be asking a judge to hold this defendant without bail as a danger,” District Attorney Quinn said. “I would like to thank the public for assisting Taunton Police detectives in their investigation to identify, locate and apprehend this defendant.”