AUGUSTA — A Belgrade man arrested at gunpoint Sunday night has been charged in connection with an armed robbery at a Stone Street store.

Jeremy McCaslin, 38, was arrested shortly after the holdup at the Stone Street The Big Apple on a charge of violating conditions of release. McCaslin was held overnight and on Monday charged with robbery and additional charges of violating conditions of his release, said Deputy Chief Jared Mills of the Augusta police.

McCaslin was being held at the Kennebec County jail and is expected to make an initial court appearance on Wednesday.

Mills said nobody was hurt in the robbery, which occurred around 10 p.m. at The Big Apple at 36 Stone St. Mills said a man wearing a white mask, a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans demanded money from the clerk. The robber threatened the clerk with a weapon. Mills said the weapon was not a firearm, but declined to provide additional details.

The robber was given an unspecified amount of money and ran away, Mills said. State Police working with a dog tried unsuccessfully to track the robber.

Mills said witnesses provided valuable information about the suspect and the car he was driving.

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Maine State Police Sgt. Peter Michaud said in a press release that Trooper Dane Wing arrested McCaslin during a felony traffic stop on Water Street. Augusta police took McCaslin into custody.

“Cash and matching clothing from the robbery was discovered inside the vehicle,” Michaud said.

Witnesses described the getaway vehicle as a small, silver sport utility vehicle, such as a Kia Sportage, with damage to the front passenger side. Police also provided a possible license plate number, Michaud said. An Augusta Police officer first spotted a vehicle matching the description in the east side rotary, but the officer lost sight of it, Michaud said. Wing, who was on nearby Arsenal Street, drove toward the area and spotted the vehicle on Cony Street, Michaud said.

“Trooper Wing attempted to stop the vehicle on Cony Street but the vehicle continued to Water Street where it eventually came to a stop at the intersection of … Laurel Street,” Michaud said.

McCaslin has more than two dozen convictions dating back to 1996, according to police records. Those convictions include unlawful furnishing of drugs, sexual abuse of a minor, aggravated assault and eluding an officer.

Waterville Police in January charged him with aggravated forgery for allegedly printing and spending thousands of dollars in counterfeit money. McCaslin told police at the time that he was addicted to drugs and printed the money to pass to drug dealers, but several businesses also were reportedly targeted.

McCaslin was arrested Dec. 8, on charges of operating after suspension and violating conditions of release after an alleged pursuit that began when police tried to stop his vehicle on Route 27 and ended on Autumn Street in Oakland. McCaslin’s vehicle, which police learned had been reported stolen, was spiked by Oakland Police on Pond Road. McCaslin was subsequently arrested after reportedly fleeing on foot after the vehicle got stuck when he tried to drive it through a ditch.

McCaslin was charged with operating without a license and violating conditions of release after crashing his car on March 12 on Interstate 95.

Craig Crosby — 621-5642 ccrosby@centralmaine.com Twitter: @CraigCrosby4


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