Cumberland Farms robbery suspect arrested

Torrington man chased by police after crash

TORRINGTON >> A city man was arrested Thursday morning after he allegedly robbed a Cumberland Farms store and then crashed a commandeered vehicle on Route 8, according to Thomaston police.

Matthew Nichols, of 63 Hoffman St. was arrested after Thomaston police were called to the Cumberland Farms on Watertown Road early Thursday, according to a press release posted on the department’s Facebook page.

According to the release, a white male entered the store, indicated to the clerk that he was in possession of a gun — but did not display one — and requested that the drawer from the cash register be placed on the counter.

He then took the money inside the register, according to police, and left the store after demanding car keys from one of the clerks, who turned them over out of fear.

“The perp the fled the scene in a stolen vehicle and headed south on Waterbury Rd., then entered Rte. 8 north at exit 38,” wrote police in the release. “Within minutes of investigating and looking for the perp, police were notified of a rollover accident on Rte. 8 north between exits 38 & 39. Witnesses also told dispatch that one person was on foot on the highway attempting to flee the scene of the accident matching the description of the person involved in the robbery.”

Thomaston and Connecticut State Police responded to the accident and arrested the suspect. Nichols is charged with first-degree robbery; third-degree larceny; breach of peace, threatening, criminal trover and reckless endangerment, all in the second degree; interfering with an officer; operating a motor vehicle without a license, and evading responsibility, according to police.