CLAREMONT — Police are seeking a 35-year-old suspect in a Wednesday evening armed robbery, who they say evaded law enforcement after shoplifting, threatening employees with a knife and assaulting someone.
As a result of the incident, James Doherty Jr., of Claremont, is wanted on a slew of felony and misdemeanor offenses.
Police have accused Doherty of shoplifting an airsoft pistol from Runnings, a retailer on Washington Street, around 6 p.m. Wednesday before exiting the building.
On a path to the Market Basket grocery store, Doherty, with a knife, allegedly threatened two Runnings employees, said Police Chief Brent Wilmot.
“They followed him off the premises, and ultimately the suspect threatened them with a knife,” said Wilmot.
Later on the path toward Market Basket, which is about half a mile up the road, Doherty assaulted one of the Runnings employees, not using the knife, according to police.
“Those are two separate incidents,” Wilmot said of the alleged threatening and the alleged assault.
Police believe Doherty shoplifted additional items at Market Basket before escaping out a back door as they searched the premises, Wilmot said. Officials also evacuated customers from the store.
Someone inside the store informed police that the suspect had gone toward the restroom, and police detained an individual who fit the description of Doherty. Runnings employees, however, said it was not the same person, according to Wilmot.
An officer searching the perimeter of the store identified evidence associated with Doherty, indicating he had vacated the area around Market Basket, and the evacuation was lifted, according to Wilmot.
As of Thursday morning, police have continued searching for Doherty to arrest him on the following charges: robbery; criminal threatening with a deadly weapon; simple assault; two counts of theft by unauthorized taking; disorderly conduct; possession of controlled drugs; violation of bail conditions; violation of a protective order; and felon in possession of a dangerous weapon, according to Wilmot.
Claremont Police ask anyone with information about Doherty’s whereabouts not to approach him, and instead to call 603-542-9538 or the anonymous line at 603-542-7026 ext. 1234.
