A Pittston man told police he tried to steal a cash register at a downtown Gardiner business on Wednesday morning, a crime police chalk up to addiction, said Gardiner Police Chief James Toman.

Toman said Jason Beckwith, 35, will be charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor criminal mischief after he said he walked into Berry & Berry Floral’s store on Water Street at 9:15 a.m. and started “attacking” the computerized cash register.

A cashier, who wasn’t hurt, fled to a neighboring business, Toman said, and Beckwith eventually fled the store after unsuccessfully trying to get money out of the register.

The clerk, whose name wasn’t released, told the Kennebec Journal the would-be thief said, “I’m really sick and I really need to get into the register.”

When police arrived, they were interviewing a similar-looking man on the street when Toman said Beckwith approached them to admit to the crime, saying he did it because he was “dope sick.”

He was being interviewed at the Gardiner Police Department Wednesday morning. Toman said police are still working to determine the types of drugs he’s addicted to.

Michael Shepherd — 370-7652

mshepherd@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @mikeshepherdme


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