A man has been charged in a second armed robbery at a gas station in Meriden last fall which occurred during a stretch of nine robberies over multiple months.
Guardy Roman, 32, was charged on Wednesday in connection with a warrant tied to an armed robbery reported at the Citgo gas station at 182 Colony St. on Oct. 31 just after 7:30 p.m., according to Lt. Darrin McKay of the Meriden Police Department.
During the incident, an individual armed with a knife allegedly entered the gas station and jumped over the counter, taking money from the cash register before fleeing, McKay said. According to McKay, investigators recovered several “pieces of evidence” that tied Roman to the robbery.
Police obtained a warrant charging Roman with first-degree robbery and third-degree larceny. He was arraigned Wednesday in Meriden Superior Court, court records show.
Roman was already being held on charges tied to a robbery at the same gas station on Nov. 6, according to McKay. He was identified as a suspect after police allege he fled the robbery, McKay said. Roman was arrested at the time on charges of first-degree robbery and fifth-degree larceny.
The incidents at Citgo occurred during a stretch of nine robberies reported in Meriden between September and November which were believed to have been committed by two individuals, according to McKay. Four of the robberies targeted two gas stations and involved an individual who was armed with a knife, McKay said.
According to court records, Roman has not entered a plea in either of the two robbery cases he has pending. He is being held on a $250,000 bond and has two scheduled court appearances in early March, court records show.
According to McKay, five of the holdups involved a man armed with what appeared to be a firearm. Police arrested 41-year-old Corey Alexis on Oct. 16 as investigators believe he was preparing to commit a robbery at a local convenience store. He was taken into custody following a multi-agency investigation and a surveillance operation.
Alexis was allegedly found with a BB gun when he was apprehended, according to McKay. He was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon and attempt to commit first-degree robbery. McKay previously said investigators expected to file additional charges against Alexis as they continued their investigation into the robbery spree.
“The Meriden Police Department wants our community to know that if a dangerous individual comes into our community and commits violent crimes against our residents and business owners, we will use every resource available to identify, arrest, and hold that person fully accountable,” McKay said in a statement. “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure offenders are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We will not tolerate those who threaten the safety of our community.”