East Wareham Man Arrested for Armed Robbery of Gas Station

WAREHAM — A Wareham Police K-9 recently made his second felony arrest in the past 10 days, catching a suspect in an armed robbery of a gas station.

On Thursday, December 21 at approximately 6:30 p.m., Wareham Police responded to the Cape Cod Gas Station at 3037 Cranberry Highway for a reported armed robbery. The report said a male suspect had reportedly demanded cash from the gas station attendant at knifepoint, and then fled the scene into a wooded area behind the business.

The employee handed over an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

Within minutes, police arrived and began searching for the suspect, described by the attendant as a white male with a scruffy beard, and wearing a mask that partially covered his mouth area. The employee lost sight of the male, who was last seen running toward the wooded area behind the gas station and the Water Wizz park.

During a search of the area, Officer Calib Larue located an article of clothing described as being worn by the suspect on the railroad tracks at the rear of the businesses. A perimeter was then secured, and Officer Michael Phinney and his K-9 partner Rolf arrived to search the area. Within minutes, Rolf located the suspect hiding in brush and in possession of cash obtained from the gas station. The suspect was then positively identified as the person who robbed the gas station.

The arrested male was identified as 48-year-old East Wareham resident Christopher Baker. He was transported to the Wareham Police headquarters and held without bail until his scheduled arraignment Friday morning at Wareham District Court. Baker has been charged with armed robbery while masked, and intimidation of a witness.

Wareham Police Chief Kevin Walsh noted that this is the second felony arrest in the past 10 days for Rolf, and that the department is grateful for his service.