Man charged in armed robberies

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Michael Harris

NAUGATUCK — Police charged a 29-year-old man on Wednesday in connection with three armed robberies late last year.

Michael Harris, who was arrested on three arrest warrants while at court, is accused of robbing the Cork n Keg Wine & Liquor at 430 Rubber Ave. on Nov. 29, a Subway restaurant at 928 Old Waterbury Turnpike on Dec. 5, and the DP Mart at 1183 New Haven Road on Dec. 28.

In all three incidents, police said, Harris entered the businesses alone, displayed a handgun, demanded money from the clerks working at the businesses and fled with cash.

Police charged Harris with three counts of first-degree robbery, fifth-degree larceny, sixth-degree larceny and fourth-degree larceny. He was arraigned in Waterbury Superior Court and held on bond. He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 3.

Police listed Harris’ address as Torrington.

Harris is also the suspect in 16 other armed robberies committed between last November and Feb. 2 in Waterbury, Torrington, Derby, Shelton, Middlebury, Southington, Milford and Winsted, according to a press release issued by the Southington Police Department in February.

A joint investigation of the police agencies in the towns identified Harris as the suspect, the press release stated.

Harris was arrested on Feb. 1 following an armed robbery of the Country Farm Convenience Store located on West Street in Southington. Southington police said Naugatuck police took him into custody in Waterbury shortly after the robbery in Southington, according to the release.

He has three other cases pending in court, according to court records. He entered a not guilty plea to a Middlebury case where he was charged with first-degree robbery, fifth-degree larceny and second-degree breach of peace stemming from an incident Jan. 8. He was held on a $250,000 bond in that case.

Harris also plead guilty to disorderly conduct in Torrington.

In Southington, he plead not guilty to first-degree robbery with a firearm and sixth-degree larceny in the Feb. 1 incident. He was held on a separate $250,000 bond in that case.

Harris has previous convictions in Connecticut for trespassing and disorderly conduct, according to court records.

The Republican-American contributed to this article.