PORTLAND, Maine — A man wanted in connection with a robbery on Tuesday night at Shaw’s Supermarket in Westbrook and who reportedly was hit by his own vehicle on Friday morning was arrested that afternoon in South Portland, according to Westbrook and Portland police.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force and the South Portland Police Department found and arrested Jamie Vandegraaf, 23, of Scarborough about 3:45 p.m. near the Maine Mall, Portland Assistant Chief Vernon W. Malloch said in a news release.
About 7 a.m. Friday, officers had been dispatched to Sheridan Street for a report of a suspicious vehicle. When police tried to stop the vehicle, reportedly driven by Vandegraaf, he fled.
Shortly after, Vandegraaf apparently tried to get out of the moving car on Adams Street and was struck by his own vehicle but not seriously injured, the statement said.
Westbrook police had asked for help identifying the suspect in a robbery on Tuesday night at the Shaw’s Supermarket.
About 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, a white male approached the Shaw’s service and told the clerk he had a gun, according to a news release from the Westbrook Police Department. The man reportedly demanded the clerk give him the money in the drawer.
After the clerk complied with the man’s demands, he left as a passenger in a dark-colored sedan, possibly a Mercury Milan or a Ford Fusion, traveling toward Riverside Drive, according to police.
No firearm was displayed during the robbery.
Two photos of the suspect from Shaw’s surveillance cameras were released by the police department.
In addition to being wanted in connection with the Shaw’s robbery, Vandegraaf had an outstanding warrant for a probation violation stemming from a prior robbery conviction.
BDN writer Ryan McLaughlin contributed to this report.