Homeless man arrested for using hypodermic needle in armed robbery

LYNN – A homeless man was quickly arrested Monday after he allegedly used a hypodermic needle to rob a Western Avenue convenience store.Jonathan Sisson, 25, was arrested and charged with armed robbery, assault by means of a hypodermic needle and malicious destruction of property.The stick-up occurred about 1:30 p.m. at Dee’s Convenience, 108 Western Ave., when Sisson allegedly pointed the needle at a store clerk.The unidentified employee got into a physical struggle with the suspect, police said. As a result, merchandise was thrown about the floor.Police say the store employee was visibly shaken but not injured in the attack.Sisson tried to steal the cash register but was unsuccessful, police said. However, he was able to obtain an undisclosed amount of cash, according to police.Within minutes of the robbery, police scoured the area after the suspect was observed running down Chatham Street.Sisson was located inside 486 Chatham St., where he was arrested about 2 p.m.A similar robbery took place exactly one week prior at Lynn Street Mini Mart in South Peabody, on the Lynn city line, where a man used a hypodermic needle to steal the cash register after telling the clerk he had AIDS.A Lynn police spokesman said officers were still completing reports on the Western Avenue robbery late Monday afternoon and did not have information as to whether the two robberies are connected.Sisson is scheduled for arraignment today in Lynn District Court.