MANCHESTER, NH – Mark Ouellette, 27, of Manchester, was arrested early Thursday morning in connection with an armed robbery attempt Oct. 1 at a West Side market, after a clerk chased him out of the store with a hammer.
At about 11 a.m. Manchester Police responded to the 99 Cent and Cigarette Mart, 352 Kelley Street, for a report of an attempted armed robbery. The clerk, Qaisar Anwar, stated an unknown assailant entered the store armed with a small handgun, demanding money. Anwar told police he picked up a hammer from under the counter and chased the Ouellette from the store.
He gave chase for several blocks and eventually went back to his store. Fortunately, a bystander observed the foot chase and opted to follow Ouellette to a residence on Essex Street. Manchester Police patrolmen and detectives arrived on scene and continued investigating the attempted armed robbery. Patrol officers secured the scene at 20 Essex St. as they waited for a search warrant to be signed.
Detective Pat Houghton completed the investigation and determined that Ouellette, who resides at that address, attempted the armed robbery earlier in the day. Ouellette, was located just after 1 a.m. on October 2 and arrested without further incident.
He is charged with armed robbery (attempt) and is set to appear in the District Court.
