Ramfis Casado, 34, of Lynn, has been indicted in connection with a string of armed robberies in Malden, Everett, Melrose, Woburn, Waltham and Arlington.
He faces 10 counts of armed and masked robbery, 10 counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault and battery, unarmed robbery, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failing to stop a motor vehicle at a police stop and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.
He is to be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn on Friday, Feb. 21.
In a Feb. 20 news release, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Malden Chief of Police Kevin Molis provided the following account:
On Dec. 10, 2019, members of the Malden Police Department arrested Casado in connection with a masked armed robbery that occurred at the In & Out Convenience Store on Lebanon Street in Malden the day before. At the time of that robbery, a Malden patrol officer allegedly encountered the defendant as he exited the store and chased him to a blue BMW sedan in an attempt to apprehend him.
The defendant allegedly was able to speed away in the vehicle. Malden officers learned that the defendant had allegedly left the store with cash from the registers after threatening the clerk with a knife. The following day, police executed a search warrant at a residence where the defendant had been renting a room. Based on the items recovered, police believed the defendant to be linked to several other robberies in Middlesex County.
Casado was arrested and charged with one count of armed and masked robbery. He was arraigned on Dec. 11, 2019, in Malden District Court. Following a 58A dangerousness hearing eight days later, Judge Roanne Sragow ordered Casado held without bail.
Added cases ID’d
During the subsequent investigation, police were allegedly able to identify the defendant in connection with additional masked robberies through the clothing items and shoes recovered from the defendant’s room and through data retrieved from the defendant’s cell phone provider. Police also located the blue BMW vehicle, previously reported as stolen, at a parking garage in downtown Boston. Surveillance footage from that parking garage allegedly shows the defendant dropping the car off to the valet shortly after the robbery in Malden.
On Feb. 6, a Middlesex grand jury indicted Casado on 26 charges in connection with these 2019 cases: allegedly robbing the 7-Eleven on Salem Street in Malden on Nov. 12, Arlington Convenience on Mass. Ave. in Arlington on Nov. 15, 7-Eleven on Ferry Street in Everett on Nov. 20, Highland Smoke Shop on Highland Avenue in Malden on Nov. 21, Bob’s Market on West Wyoming Avenue in Melrose on Nov. 23, 7-Eleven on Main Street in Everett on Nov. 25, Minit Mart on Main Street in Woburn on Nov. 27, A1 Market on Moody Street in Waltham on Dec. 2, Roxy’s United Convenience Store on Moody Street in Waltham on Dec. 2, West Wyoming Market on West Wyoming Avenue in Melrose on Dec. 5, and in the In & Out Convenience Store on Lebanon Street in Malden on Dec. 9.
On each date, but for the Nov. 12, incident, the defendant was armed with a knife.
This case was investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Malden Police Department, Everett Police Department, Melrose Police Department, Woburn Police Department, Waltham Police Department, Arlington Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Jacob McCrindle. The victim witness advocate is Courtney Clark.
Nov. 16, 2019: Police probe East Arlington robbery attempt
This news summary was published Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020.
