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Tolland County resident Cody Lester, age 26, of Strafford Springs, was arrested Thursday, Feb. 24, for the robbery which took place on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at the Shell Gas Station located at 262 Boston Turnpike in Bolton.
Lester is reported to have allegedly driven up to the store in a work-type truck, entered the store, and approached an employee with a folding knife, demanding money, said the Connecticut State Police.
When the employee did not get the money out of the register fast enough, Lester reportedly came around the counter and threatened her, court documents show.
At the same time the employee finally got the cash register open and handed Lester the cash, another customer pulled into the parking lot and entered the store as Lester pushed past him on his way out of the door, state police said.
The employee told the customer she had been robbed and asked him to get the truck's license plate number, they added.
The customer was able to get a partial plate and the employee called 911 to report the crime.
Through investigative work and video surveillance state police were led to Lester who had used a work truck to allegedly commit the crime, court documents show.
When approached by officers at his mother's house where he lived, Lester denied being near the area, but cell phone pings show he was near the store at the time of the robbery.
Lester, who had served time for armed robbery in the past, was arrested on a warrant and charged with first-degree robbery.
He is being on a $100,000 bond.
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