Christmas Eve chase: Springfield man charged in Holyoke armed robbery

HOLYOKE — A Springfield man was arrested Christmas Eve after police say he fled an armed robbery, stashed the weapon and hid in a nearby city alleyway.

Aqil Rios-Thomas, 22, faces charges including possession of a firearm and ammunition without a license, improper gun storage, armed assault in a home, armed robbery, breaking and entering at night, and obstruction of justice, Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan said in a statement.

Around 7:35 p.m. on Dec. 24, officers and detectives went to an apartment on Essex Street after getting a report of the armed robbery in progress, Keenan said.

Officers knocked on the apartment door, and someone answered but didn't open it. A short time later, police went inside, but the suspect already had slipped out, entered another apartment and fled the building, Keenan said.

Police later found the suspect, identified as Rios-Thomas, in an alley near the building. He was arrested, and officers searching the apartment found a gun, Keenan said.

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