Subway Sandwich Shop On Enfield Street Robbed; Suspect In Custody: PD

ENFIELD, CT ? A Subway sandwich shop on Route 5 was robbed at knifepoint late Monday afternoon, and a suspect in the robbery was later apprehended following a narcotics call in the restroom of a movie theater.

At 4:34 p.m., police were dispatched to the Subway in the Mountain Laurel Shoppes, with the caller stating the suspect was in possession of a knife and had fled the establishment. Investigation determined the suspect had brandished a switchblade-style knife, went behind the counter, and demanded the employee open the register. Cash was taken from both the register and a tip jar on the counter, Police Chief Alaric Fox said.

No customers were in the store at the time of the robbery, and no injuries were reported. Enfield police and a Connecticut State Police canine searched the area and located a sweatshirt matching the description of clothing worn during the robbery, and a suspect was identified shortly thereafter, Fox said

At 9:14 p.m., police received a call from the Cinemark Movie Theatre at Enfield Square with a report of possible narcotics found in the restroom, and a party who had been in the restroom for an extended period of time. Investigation revealed the suspect from the Subway robbery was the same person at the theater, Fox said.

Richard Rowland, 21, of Enfield, was found in possession of a crack pipe, a ?butterfly? knife and suspected heroin/fentanyl. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia for the incident at Cinemark, and with first-degree robbery, second-degree threatening, sixth-degree larceny and second-degree breach of peace in connection with the Subway robbery, Fox said.

Rowland was held on bonds totaling $55,000, and was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court.