Man Charged In Armed Robbery With Knife At Main St. Smoke Shop: PD

EAST HAVEN, CT — Thursday afternoon, a man armed with a knife walked into a Main Street smoke shop and demanded merchandise and threatened harm to the employee if he did not comply, Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said.

Turns out, Carlos Diaz was also a "repeat shoplifter" at King Smoke Shop, police said.

It was just before 3 p.m. when cops were called to the 591 Main St., store for what Murgo described as a "dispute taking place inside the business."

Murgo said that Diaz, 32, went into the shop at around 2:30 and began talking to a customer, "allegedly asking about the whereabouts of the employee."

When the employee appears at the counter, Murgo said, "Diaz exchanges a few words with the employee, accusing him of selling illegal substances to his wife."

According to police, Diaz then "closes the store's main entrance door before brandishing a knife, and advancing toward the employee, who retreated towards the rear of the business."

Murgo said Diaz "later stole merchandise, a set of car keys, and a baseball bat before exiting the store."

Taken into custody on the scene without incident, Murgo said police found "several items, including a knife and the stolen merchandise."

Diaz, of New Haven, was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree threatening, and second-degree breach of peace.

Diaz' bail was set at $10,000, and he's scheduled to appear in a New Haven courtroom Jan. 25.