New Bedford Police have charged a city man with an unarmed robbery early Wednesday in the North End.

Det. Captain Steve Vicente says a man walked into the 7-11 store at 14-99 Acushnet Avenue and tried to buy cigarettes with a credit card. When the transaction didn't go through, the man leaped over the counter and struggled with the female clerk. He then fled on foot with several packs of cigarettes.

A short time later, State Trooper Paul Gifford spotted a man matching the description of the robbery suspect in the vicinity of Sawyer and North Front.

Thirty-two year old Cedric Wade-McIllwain was arrested after a short foot case and charged with unarmed robbery. The stolen cigarettes were recovered and returned to the store.

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