Police Arrest Man Accused Of Armed Robbery At Fenway Bar

FENWAY, MA — A man was arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a popular Fenway Bar early Sunday after police found him on Newbury Street.

About 2:57 a.m. on Sunday someone at Cask 'n Flagon called police to report a man had gained entry to the popular bar after hours and threatened two employees with a gun, while demanding cash. At some point the man reportedly fired a single shot, but no one was hurt, according to police. The man then ran off with money.

Officers on their way to the bar passed a man walking near 686 Newbury St, who matched a description sent out. They stopped their car and called out to the man, who was later identified as Leonard Payne, 54, of Hyde Park.

As they approached, the officers noticed that the man kept his right hand tightly inside his jacket pocket, despite asking him to not do that.

Eventually, officers recovered a loaded .380 caliber Cobra handgun from inside the man's coat pocket. Payne was placed in custody without incident after police positively identified him.

Investigators are continuing their efforts at this time in an attempt to locate the stolen U.S. Currency.

Payne is set to appear in Boston Municipal Court on multiple charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm third offense, unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm on a public way, armed and masked robbery, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, aggravated intimidation of a witness, unlawful possession of a firearm with three prior violent or drug crimes, possession of class B drugs, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and armed kidnapping.

Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff