DOVER, NH — Dover police have arrested a local man in connection with an armed robbery at a Broadway pizzeria.
Brice R. Charest, 36, of Dover, was taken into custody at approximately 8:30 a.m. Thursday at his residence by the Strafford County Regional Tactical Operations Unit.
The arrest stems from a robbery that occurred at approximately 7:11 p.m. Wednesday at Papa Jay’s Pizzeria, located at 18 Broadway.
Police say the suspect entered the business through a rear door and threatened employees with a handgun before stealing cash from the register.
The suspect was last seen fleeing through the rear door toward railroad tracks north of the pizzeria.
The handgun was not discharged during the incident, and no injuries were reported.
Officers from Dover Police Department’s Field Operations Division responded to the initial call and were assisted by the department’s K9 Unit, detectives from the Special Investigations Unit, officers from the Rollinsford Police Department and troopers from the New Hampshire State Police.
The suspect was recorded on the store’s surveillance cameras.
After the surveillance video was broadcast by media outlets, Dover police detectives developed information leading them to Charest.
Charest was charged with one count of robbery, a Class A felony.
He is being held at the Strafford County House of Correction and is scheduled for arraignment in Dover District Court at 9 a.m. Friday.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Dover Police Department at 603-742-4646 or the Dover Crimeline at 603-749-6000 to remain anonymous.
The Dover Crimeline can also be contacted via www.dovernhcrimeline.org.
Police are urging residents and business owners in the area of Papa Jay’s to review any surveillance footage and contact the department if they locate any footage believed to be related to the incident.
