WATERVILLE — Police arrested a man today in connection with Sunday’s robbery of Little Caesars pizza on Main Street.

Mitchell McQuarrie, 23, of Central Avenue, handed a note to a worker around 1 p.m. Sunday demanding cash, and then fled with a small amount of money, according to police.

Area police and a state police dog scoured the area but were unable to find the robber.

A photo of the robber released by police generated a number of calls from people saying they thought they recognized McQuarrie, according to police Chief Joseph Massey. Some callers also gave other names, Massey said.

The investigation, led by Detective Alan Perkins, involved a substantial amount of surveillance work as well as piecing together information from callers and pizzeria employees, according to Massey.

McQuarrie was arrested at 11:35 a.m. today after police stopped him while he was driving a small, white car near the intersection of Main and Appleton streets.

Massey said that “some information indicated he probably did this because he has an opiate addiction.”

Massey said McQuarrie, who was cooperative, has no record. His home on Central Avenue is less than a mile from the pizza shop, at 371 Main St.

McQuarrie, who was charged with class B robbery, was taken to the police station where he was released on $5,000 unsecured bail, according to Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey.

He is scheduled to appear in Kennebec County Superior Court Sept. 10.

A class B felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@mainetoday.com