Alleged Lynn crook arraigned

LYNN – An Iraq War veteran was arraigned Wednesday for allegedly robbing the St. Jean’s Credit Union on Western Avenue four times in the past two months.Derek Christensen, 34, of 113 Franklin St. #5, Lynn, was arrested Tuesday and charged with trespassing. He was additionally charged with three counts of armed robbery and one count of unarmed robbery after several hours of questioning.Police suspected Christensen, a Lynn native, committed the robberies following the last one, which occurred Monday afternoon. At about 2:30 p.m. that day, Christensen scribbled a note to a teller on a ripped piece of envelope demanding money, prosecutors said.A video surveillance photo caught the attention of a police officer that recognized Christensen – one of 14 children who grew up in a house on Adams Street.At about 4 a.m. Tuesday, another Lynn officer recognized Christensen as he stood on the steps of an apartment building at 526 Western Ave., which happens to be located across the street from St. Jean’s.The officer noticed Christensen ringing door buzzers in the front lobby, prosecutors said. Because Christensen was under the influence of alcohol and was standing near a posted sign that read, “No Trespassing,” he was taken into custody, police said.”Christensen could not offer an explanation as to why he was there,” Lynn police spokesperson Lt. Dave Brown said.Christensen was holding over $500 in cash when he was arrested, prosecutors said.Christensen allegedly robbed the credit union on Feb. 7, March 5, March 18 and March 25.During the third robbery, he allegedly passed a note that said, “No noise or there will be violence. Don’t act suspicious or you’re first.” Three of the notes indicated he might have a weapon, though none were ever displayed.Christensen, who served two tours in Iraq and whose brother recently died, allegedly fled toward Franklin Street after each of the robberies.Christensen currently has a shaved head and tattoos on his neck. He showed little emotion during his arraignment.While Christensen was in custody, police said he allegedly made statements to another prisoner admitting his guilt in the robberies.”I’m going upstate for what I did? Bank robbery,” Christensen allegedly said.”Are you the dude that robbed St. Jean’s all those times?” the other prisoner allegedly asked.”Yeah, that was me.”A court-appointed lawyer for Christensen said at the arraignment in Lynn District Court that police have little evidence against the suspect, including several poor quality surveillance tapes from the credit union, as well as a questionable arrest.The attorney says police held Christensen for three hours after his arrest on the trespassing charge, then placed him into protective custody for another few hours for being intoxicated but never gave him a Breathalyzer test.He also pointed out that none of the employees at St. Jean’s were asked to positively identify Christensen as the suspect before his arraignment.Prosecutors say Christensen consented to a search of his apartment a short time after his arrest. During the search police allegedly found the envelope used to write the note as well as a black marker and a crack pipe, prosecutors said.Christensen has been receiving assistance from the Veterans Association and is currently unemployed.Judge Ellen Flatley ordered Christensen held on $50,000 cash bail. He is due back in court April 24 for a probable cause hearing.Christensen could serve a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison on the three armed robbery charges.