JURY CONVICTS MASHPEE MAN OF 2019 ICE CREAM STAND ROBBERY...

In a media statement today, Cape & Islands District Attorney Robert J. Galibois announced that Lawrence “Larry” Bland, 60, of Mashpee, was found guilty after a jury trial in the Barnstable Superior Court for his role relating to the assaults and robbery of two individuals in the town of Barnstable.

After pending in court for approximately five years and several motions before the court, Lawrence Bland was found guilty by a Barnstable County jury, on Monday July 15, 2024. Mr. Bland was convicted on the charges of Kidnapping (x2), Masked & Armed Robbery (x2), Assault w/dangerous weapon(x2), Assault, Larceny of Property over $1,200, and Larceny from a Building.

On June 8, 2019, at approximately 11:32 p.m., Barnstable Police were dispatched to the Steve & Sue’s Par-Tee Freeze ice cream stand on West Main Street, Hyannis, for an armed robbery investigation.

Upon arrival the Barnstable Police Department engaged with three individuals ranging from the ages of 17 to 21 years old. It was reported that when the individuals were closing up the business for the night, they were approached by a large, masked male who brandished a small blade knife. The business owner called 911 while watching the robbery via surveillance cameras. One of the individuals fled upon seeing the knife Mr. Bland wielded. Mr. Bland backed the individuals into the property at knife point. Once inside the business Mr. Bland ordered one of the victims to open the safe and give him all the money. Upon doing so, money from the safe was given to Mr. Bland. Once Mr. Bland retrieved the bags of money, he exited through the rear door. Mr. Bland was identified through surveillance video footage obtained by the Barnstable Police Department.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Barnstable Police Department. Assistant District Attorneys Michael Giardino, Molly Finn, and victim/ witness assistant Deborah McCoy prosecuted the case for the Commonwealth.

Lawrence Bland was sentenced on July 18, 2024, to 5 years committed to State Prison, time served deemed served on one of the assault w/dangerous weapon charges. On the Masked Armed Robbery charges Mr. Bland was sentenced to an additional 12.5- 15 years in State Prison, which starts on today’s day, total time sentenced 17.5-20 years, followed by 5 years’ probation upon release. Mr. Bland was sentenced by the Barnstable Superior Court.

INITIAL HN REPORT FROM JULY OF 2019:

YOUNG PAR-TEE FREEZE CLERKS HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL BY MASKED MAN: 55-year-old repeat offender charged with Armed Robbery and Kidnapping…

June 11, 2019 | Robert Bastille

HYANNIS – This past Saturday evening – June 8th, 2019 – at about 11:32 p.m., a Barnstable Police Detective was requested to assist patrol units investigating an armed robbery at the Steve & Sue’s Par-Tee Freeze ice cream shop at 455 West Main Street, according to a statement of facts report filed today in Barnstable District Court.

The court documents outline the details of the robbery as follows: three young employees (2 females, 1 male), ages ranging from 17 to 21-years-old, were closing the shop and about to exit the rear door when they were met by a masked man, described as being middle aged and 6’2” tall.

[HN Note: An earlier report had the victims as being 3 females. According to court documents, one of the victims’ names could be interpreted as either female or male. It turned out to be male; therefore the victims where actually 2 females, 1 male…]

The masked suspect was wearing blue latex gloves and brandishing what was described as a “small bladed knife with a yellow plastic handle.”

The masked suspect then allegedly told the young store clerks that it was a “stick up” and that he wanted all the money.

One of the young employees took off running away to safety as the suspect yelled at her to come back.

The masked suspect then allegedly forced the two remaining clerks back into the store against their will.

The clerks were then ordered to open the store’s safe and hand over bank style bags containing about “$5000.00 to $6000.00 in US Currency.”

The suspect then walked out the back of the store and across the parking lot, where he vanished into the darkness in the direction of the nearby Hyannis West Elementary School.

Barnstable Police patrol officers arrived shortly thereafter and initiated a K9 track onto the elementary school property, but were unable to catch up to the suspect.

Detailed surveillance system images were sent out to law enforcement personnel. The images not only reportedly matched the description provided from the victims, but multiple law enforcement sources positively identified the suspect as being Larry Bland, age 55, of Mashpee.

On Monday – June 10th 2019 – detectives set up surveillance on Bland at his place of employment. According to court documents, Bland is employed by Weston & Sampson in Yarmouth.

A detective later followed Bland into a store and allegedly observed he was still wearing the same red sneakers and dark colored pants that were seen in the Steve & Sue’s surveillance video.

Detectives followed the suspect as he exited the store, initiating a motor vehicle stop a short distance away.

Bland was reportedly taken into custody and a search of the vehicle allegedly yielded a folding knife with a yellow plastic handle.

Back at BPD headquarters, Bland allegedly admitted to being in the area of Steve & Sue’s the evening of the robbery.

According to the report, one of the robbery victim’s identified the folding knife with the plastic yellow handle as the knife used by the suspect during the robbery.

According to a Massachusetts Criminal History check, Lawrence Bland has had 91 adult arraignments in Orleans District, Barnstable District, and Barnstable Superior Courts.

In 1984, Bland was convicted of Burglary in Barnstable Superior Court and sentenced to 5 to 7 years with 5 years suspended sentence, according to documents filed today in Barnstable District Court.

In 1991, Bland was convicted in Barnstable Superior Court for Burglary and Assault, and was sentenced to 30 to 40 years.

Lawrence (“Larry”) Bland, age 55, of Mashpee, was arraigned today on the charges of Armed Robbery While Masked, 2 counts of Kidnapping, and 3 counts of Assault by Dangerous Weapon, to wit knife.

The following HN images show the suspect moments prior to his charges being read in open court.

Bland is currently being held on $100,000 cash bail (or $1,000,000 bond) at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility in Bourne.

[HN Photos: Larry Bland, at the request of his attorney, hiding behind a District Court house door during his arraignment…]