Clerk Chases Down Masked Armed Robbers, Helps Police Capture Them

Police say a clerk at South Huntington Market wouldn't stand for being robbed by two masked men. The men, both of whom wore black ski masks and one of who had a knife, entered the 12 S. Huntington convenience store at 9:28 p.m. Monday and demanded cash, according to police.

The men got their money — but they also got a clerk more motivated than usual in catching the hoodlums. The clerk saw the men get in a black motor vehicle and speed away. He got in his own car and followed. The police report picks up the action:

Upon seeing an approaching Boston Police cruiser, the store employee shouted to the officers and then motioned towards the suspect’s car which was stopped at a red light in the area of 425 S. Huntington Ave.

Police, informed at least one of the men was armed, approached the vehicle with their guns drawn. Police had the three occupants get out of the car. There was what police describe as "a sizable amount of U.S. currency" spread around the floor of the car.

Police arrested Officers arrested Dave Hampton, 31, of Boston; Ricardo Lambert, 31, of Boston and Chithalia Barnes, 28, of Chelsea and charged all three with armed robbery.

Police say they appreciated the man's help in apprehending the suspects, but don't want him to start a trend.

"Clearly we don't encourage citizens to take matters into their own hands," said Officer James Kenneally. "Fortunately, in this case things worked out."