An individual claiming falsely to be a Texas A&M University basketball player now faces charges in connection with an armed robbery at Rosev Dairy on Monday. The incident involved the theft of more than $40,000 in cash from two employees who were transporting the day’s proceeds to a bank.
On Monday shortly before 4:30 p.m., Chelsea Police arrived at Rosev Dairy on Griffin Way after receiving a report of an armed robbery. Two workers leaving the building with cash had been confronted by a suspect wielding a firearm, who then took two bags containing over $40,000.
The robber entered a white Volkswagen Jetta that was waiting nearby with a female driver and male passenger inside. As the vehicle fled eastward on Eastern Avenue, one of the robbery victims pursued in his own car. The Jetta proceeded to Clinton Street and then to the dead end of Lisa Lane, where the suspect fired at least two shots at the pursuing vehicle. The victim then retreated and contacted emergency services.
State Police received the 911 call at their Revere Barracks and issued a Be On the Lookout Alert (BOLO) for the suspect vehicle. State Police Sergeant Edward Troy, monitoring traffic at Mahoney Circle in Revere after hearing the broadcast, spotted the Jetta entering the rotary. When the vehicle turned onto Shirley Avenue, Sgt. Troy activated his lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop. The Jetta refused to stop, turning onto Walnut Avenue before pulling over near a playground. A male passenger exited the vehicle, but when ordered back inside by Sgt. Troy, he instead reached into the car while ignoring commands.
After Sgt. Troy drew his service pistol and ordered the suspect down, the man grabbed a large bag and ran toward Shirley Avenue. Sgt. Troy pursued on foot and radioed the Revere Barracks about the chase involving a potentially armed suspect. The runner turned left onto Sumner Street and attempted unsuccessfully to open a parked van’s passenger door before continuing to a pickup truck. There he stopped, crouched down, placed the bag on the ground, and appeared to reach into his sweatpants while watching Sgt. Troy approach. The sergeant drew his pistol again and ordered surrender, simultaneously drawing his Taser electronic control weapon.
The suspect seized the bag once more and resumed running. He crossed Sumner Street onto Walnut Place with Sgt. Troy continuing pursuit and issuing surrender commands. On the Walnut Place sidewalk, Sgt. Troy deployed his Taser, striking the suspect with the probes. The suspect fell momentarily but quickly attempted to flee again. The sergeant reactivated the Taser. After regaining mobility and beginning to remove the probes, the suspect violently resisted Sgt. Troy’s efforts to subdue him. Following a prolonged struggle, Sgt. Troy forced the suspect to the ground on Walnut Place and held him until two additional troopers arrived and took him into custody, with the suspect continuing to resist throughout.
A Springfield Armory .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a laser sight was recovered from the suspect’s sweatpants pocket. The weapon was loaded with one round chambered and two additional rounds in the magazine. After receiving his Miranda Rights, the suspect identified himself as Xavier P. Harbert and stated he had never been arrested. The bag he had fled with was recovered and found to contain multiple stacks of US currency in plastic deposit bags.
The Jetta, which had been abandoned at the stop location, was found a short distance away on Walnut Avenue. Additional plastic bank deposit bags containing US currency were discovered inside. The robbery victims confirmed that the suspect was the man who had robbed and fired upon them.
Chelsea Police received all evidence related to the armed robbery.
The suspect was transported to the State Police Barracks in Revere for booking.
His possession of a driver’s license identified him as Xavier Paul Harbert, and he claimed to be a Texas A&M University basketball player. However, after State Police obtained his fingerprints and ran them through a national database, they determined his actual identity to be Joshua Kountze Andrews, 31, who has an extensive criminal record and an outstanding Middlesex County warrant for firearm and drug offenses. The shirt Andrews wore was submitted to the State Police Crime Scene Services Section for gunshot residue analysis.
Subsequent investigation by State Police established that Xavier Paul Harbert is a real person holding a valid Texas driver’s license. State Police concluded that Andrews had fraudulently obtained a Massachusetts driver’s license using this individual’s stolen identity.
State Police charged Andrews with Armed Robbery; Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon; Assault and Battery on a Police Officer; Carrying a Firearm Without a License; Carrying a Firearm With Ammunition; Resisting Arrest; Giving a False Name to Police; and Identity Fraud.
The outstanding Middlesex County warrant resulted in an additional arrest.
The investigation into the armed robbery and Andrews’ potential accomplices remains active.