Francis Manigault, 41, with a last known address of 2960 8th Ave., New York City, entered the West Main Grocery Store at 495 W. Main St. just after 10 a.m. and told the clerk it was a robbery, police said.
He pulled out a handgun, "racked" the chamber to show that it was loaded and pointed it at the clerk, police said.
The clerk gave the man cash, and the suspect took off running east on West Main Street, police said. Officers swarmed the area after the clerk's 911 call, police said.
Officer Edward Perez saw a man fitting the armed robber's description walking near West Main Street and Virgil Street, police said. The man spotted Perez and ran north on Virgil Street, police said.
Perez saw the suspect throw a loaded handgun on the sidewalk and cornered him in a driveway on Virgil Street along with Officer Christopher Friel, police said. He was arrested without incident and the handgun seized.
During the search of Manigault, officers found cash from the robbery and a Norwalk car agency's business card, police said. After determining that Manigault had rented a vehicle from the agency, officers were able to track the vehicle with the rental car agency's help, police said. Officers soon suspected Manigault had a conspirator, police said.
The vehicle was tracked driving north on Interstate 95, police said. With the help of the Norwalk Police Department, the vehicle was stopped at Old Trolley Way and Wilson Avenue in Norwalk, where officers detained the driver, police said.
The driver was identified as Tajah Dash, 19, of 69 Meadow St., Norwalk.
Manigault was charged with first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, criminal use of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm. Bond was set at $250,000 with arraignment on Thursday.
Police said Manigault has an extensive criminal history dating to 1989. He has been arrested for numerous narcotics, larceny and resisting arrest charges in New York City and South Carolina.
Dash was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery. Bond was set at $5,000 for him.
Police said the Glock handgun was stolen in South Carolina, and they determining whether the two were involved in other robberies in the Fairfield County area.
Stamford Police said the quick work by Perez and Friel may lead to solving other robberies in the area. The department also thanked Norwalk Police for their work in arresting Dash.
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