Mass. Firefighter in Aerial Bucket Spots Suspect

HAVERHILL, Mass. -- An armed robbery suspect tried to evade police by climbing onto the roof of an apartment building, but a firefighter in an aerial bucket spotted him and police surrounded the property.

Norman Evans, 25, of 368 River St., surrendered, police said. He is charged with armed and masked robbery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was held on $50,000 cash bail yesterday in Haverhill District Court.

Detectives Glenn Fogarty and William O'Connell arrested Evans on a warrant the morning of Sept. 8 at 6:44 a.m. They were looking for Evans, knocking on the door of the River Street apartment and identifying themselves as police for 15 minutes before someone finally opened the door, Deputy Chief Donald Thompson said. The detectives were accompanied by four parole officers.

When they entered the apartment, they didn't find him, but they could see an open window that led to the roof, Thompson said. The detectives called the fire department and a ladder truck responded.

Evans complied with Fogarty and O'Connell's orders to give himself up and came down off the roof, Thompson said.

Yesterday, Judge Stephen Abany scheduled a probable cause hearing for Oct. 5.

Evans, Ryan Ambrose, 21, of 136 Winter St., and Aaron Dionne, 31, of 20 Thorndike St., allegedly "sucker punched," beat and kicked Daniel LaCarbonava, 21, of Salem at 136 Winter St. around 10:30 p.m. Aug. 26. The man are also accused of stealing $3,200 from LaCarbonava.

Ambrose and Dionne were arrested shortly after the alleged beating and were ordered held without bail at a dangerousness hearing Sept. 8. They also face an Oct. 5 probable cause hearing.

LaCarbonava told police he was "sucker punched" and knocked to the floor, then beaten and kicked by three men. One of the attackers said, "Give me your money," investigators said. Besides $3,200, the assailants stole his watch, three rings, his wallet and cell phone, according to a report filed by Patrolman Dennis Moriarty.

LaCarbonava also said he felt a "cold metal object" against the back of his head and believed it was a handgun, police said. The attackers wore masks, according to investigators.

LaCarbonava said he jumped out a bathroom window to avoid further injury, according to Moriarty's report.

Even if Evans posts $50,000 cash bail, he will probably not be leaving Middleton jail. Superior Court, where Evans faces additional unrelated charges, has placed a detainer on him, Abany noted.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service