Kaitlin McKinley Becker

Surveillance Video Shows Suspect Use Syringe to Threaten Clerk in Attempted Robbery

Lawrence police arrested 35-year-old Eric Aponte following the attempted robbery at Union Supermarket

A Massachusetts convenience store worker is back on the job after being threatened by a man with a syringe.

The incident happened Feb. 13 at the Union Supermarket on Park Street in Lawrence.

Surveillance video shows a male customer, later identified as 35-year-old Eric Aponte, come to the counter, apparently looking to buy something. Aponte then points a syringe at Catia Figuereo without warning as he demands money.

“I very, very feeling nervous because the person tried to hurt me,” Figuereo said.

Figuereo can be seen on video backing away from the man and the needle.

During the attempted robbery, the suspect grabbed the cash register and tried to take it but he ran out of the store without anything after one of the store's owners emerged from an office.

The owner followed the suspect out of the store, got in his car and watched him until police arrived.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess," Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasques said of the incident. "Obviously people with addictions are very down and out."

Police aprehended Aponte following a foot chase. He is charged with a number of offenses, including armed robbery.

The store's owners are working with Lawrence police and have installed video surveillance in the store to try and prevent these things from happening.

“I am grateful to the police department of Lawrence... We want our customers to feel safe. This area is very dangerous,” Figuereo said.

Aponte is being held without bail pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing that will take place later in February. It's unclear if he has an attorney.

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