Police caught the 48-year-old Trenton man nearby after a brief search, Lt. Mark Ubry said.
LAWRENCE — A Trenton man who grabbed a CVS clerk and stole a carton of cigarettes was arrested after a brief search last night, police said.
Levern Edmonds, 48, allegedly positioned his hand inside his jacket to suggest he had a gun during the robbery, but no weapon was found when he was arrested. Edmonds was charged with armed robbery.
"The clerk felt he had a gun," Lt. Mark Ubry said.
Officers went to the CVS on the 1900 block of Brunswick Avenue at 8:20 p.m. on a 911 call about the robbery. The clerk told police the suspect had asked for a pack of Newport cigarettes, and when he put the pack down on the counter, the suspect allegedly grabbed the clerk by the shirt and demanded a carton of Newports.
The clerk complied and the suspect ran out of the pharmacy onto Cherry Tree Lane, police said.
Officers searched the area and found Edmonds on Stokes Alley. He was still carrying the carton of cigarettes, which police said has a retail value of $74.54.
Edmonds was charged with robbery, terroristic threats and theft. He was being held on $150,000 full cash bail, and taken to the Mercer County Correction Center when he could not pay.
Police believe Edmonds may be a suspect in other, similar robberies in the township.
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