Man arrested in connection with needle robbery

LYNN – An alleged heroin junkie suspected of robbing the Western Avenue Market using a hypodermic needle was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail Tuesday in Lynn District Court.Jonathan R. Sisson, 25, homeless, was arrested within minutes of the robbery, which occurred about 1:30 p.m. Monday at 108 Western Ave.The store’s owner broke Sisson’s arm after he fought him off with a baseball bat, police said.The owner also said Sisson was the same man who robbed the store of $50 using a gun on Sunday night. However, police say the owner never filed a police report about that robbery and didn’t give an explanation why.On Monday, police say Sisson pointed a hypodermic needle containing blood at the clerk and demanded he give him the cash register.The clerk fought back, swinging the bat at Sisson’s arm as the men struggled and knocked merchandise all over the store, police said.Sisson allegedly dropped the bloody syringe on the floor and fled the store. He allegedly ran a few blocks into 486 Chatham St.There, police found him inside the home of two friends and arrested him.Sisson admitted to police that he “shot up” an hour prior, police said.Last Monday, a man described as a white male in his 30s also used a hypodermic needle to rob and steal the cash register of Lynn Street Mini Mart in South Peabody, on the Lynn city line.Sisson has not been officially connected to that heist but police say they’re taking a look at it.”Officers are aware of the incident that occurred in Peabody and this is something investigators will be looking into,” Lynn police spokesman Lt. Dave Brown said.The Western Avenue Market was also robbed on Nov. 18, 2007 after a man allegedly pointed a high-powered rifle at the 45-year-old woman standing behind the counter.The couple who owns the business, Amy and Anh Dang, used to own a convenience store on Essex Street where they were also robbed several times. The family first opened Western Avenue Market just under one year ago.[Editor’s note: An article first reporting Monday’s robbery incorrectly identified the store as Dee’s Convenience in Tuesday’s Daily Item.]