$25G bail for Peabody man in armed robbery, chase

SALEM – Two local men charged with robbing a Saugus Walgreen’s at knifepoint and then leading police on a high-speed chase before crashing into a home in Lynn last month will each have to come up with $25,000 cash in order to get out of the Middleton Jail, pending their trial.Thomas Ryan, 31, of 16 Longwood Ave., Peabody, and Jorge Delvalle, 31, of 423 South St., Reading, appeared Monday afternoon in Salem Superior Court for their arraignment, pleading innocent to armed robbery.Ryan also entered an innocent plea to a second charge of assault with a dangerous weapon on a person over age 60; and Delvalle an innocent plea to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.Assistant District Attorney James P. Gubitose strongly argued to Judge John T. Lu that Ryan be held on $25,000 cash bail, saying it was “appropriate,” while pointing out his criminal history and number of defaults on his record.On Aug. 14 at about 7 p.m. the two suspects allegedly held up the Walgreen’s Pharmacy, located at 1228 Broadway, on Route 1 at knifepoint.Daniel McNeil, from Saugus, tried to stop them as they fled from the scene but was apparently pushed into the carriages by Delvalle and was reportedly struck with a cash register by Ryan.Witnesses reported to authorities the thieves ran to Santoro’s Sub Shop where they hopped into a black Mitsubishi driven by a third man, Kenneth Stoddard.A chase into Lynn ended when Stoddard ran off the road and smashed into a home at 226 Walnut St.Gubitose said police retrieved the cash register and knife from the vehicle. Clothing that matched what the alleged robbers were wearing was also found in the car.The three men were taken to area hospitals for treatment due to injuries sustained in the crash.When Ryan was interviewed by police, he “essentially” admitted to the incident, saying he had a drug addiction issue, Gubitose stated.Defense lawyer Michael A. Contant urged the court to establish a lower cash bail, saying the family could not post near that amount while suggesting conditions for home confinement.Lu agreed to set $25,000 cash bail on Delvalle, but left the door open for a bail review at another court date.Stoddard, 21, of 30 Windsor Road, Medford, also pleaded innocent to accessory after the fact and negligent operation of a motor vehicle in connection with the case. He was allowed to remain free on $1,000 cash bail with a bracelet monitoring device and house arrest only to leave for scheduled court dates, medical appointments and attorney appointments. He was placed on pretrial probation and ordered to remain drug free pending the outcome of his case.All three men are due back in court on Oct. 27 for a pretrial conference.