SERIAL ROBBER!

(The following is the actual Brewster Police press statement)

MICHAEL SLETZINGER TIED TO STRING OF ROBBERIES

BREWSTER, MA –Michael Sletzinger, the defendant in the Brewster Farms Market armed Robbery is now being investigated by several agencies outside of Massachusetts for a rash of over a dozen armed robberies in the Virginia, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania area.

After his arrest on Tuesday (12/15) Brewster officers were able to connect him to an armed robbery in New Bedford, MA and a break-in to a gun shop in McLean, Virginia where two firearms were stolen. Both firearms were recovered at Sletzinger’s family home in Brewster.

Earlier today (12/17) Brewster Police were contacted by several agencies in Virginia who are looking for a suspect matching Sletzinger’s description. The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently released a flyer looking to identify a serial robber in the Northern Virginia area. The FBI is assisting with the investigation and the involved agencies are investigating any connection to Mr. Sletzinger.

A copy of that bulletin is attached to this press release, or may be viewed online by CLICKING HERE.

The Brewster Police will continue to work with federal authorities and other state and municipal agencies to assist in their ongoing investigations.

Attached to this press release is a copy of the booking photo of Mr. Sletzinger. It is not the policy of the Brewster Police Department to regularly release booking photos; however, out of concern that Mr. Sletzinger may have committed crimes in other jurisdictions, that have yet to be solved, we feel it is important in this case to release the photo.

SHOCKING NEW VIDEO EVIDENCE: Suspect pointed gun at cashier, threatened owner’s mom to reopen cash drawer… [UPDATE: BPD GETS THEIR MAN!]

UPDATE – 12/16/2015: (The following is the actual Brewster Police press statement)

BREWSTER, MA –Michael Sletzinger (age 27) from Brewster was arraigned today on one count of armed robbery, and four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with the armed robbery that occurred at the Brewster Farms Market on Sunday evening. While searching Mr. Sletzinger’s residence, officers recovered several pieces of evidence, including a BB Gun, which was used during the robbery. Also located at his residence were two stolen Desert Eagle semi-automatic pistols. Those firearms were stolen from a firearms dealership in McLean, Virginia on Friday (12/11) morning. Mr. Sletzinger was arraigned on additional firearms charges this morning and Fairfax County Sheriffs have been advised. They are investigating Sletzinger’s role in the break-in of that business.

Mr. Sletzinger has also been tied to an armed robbery in New Bedford that occurred last week. New Bedford detectives have been in contact with Brewster PD and they will be filing charges for the crime that occurred in their community.

At Orleans District Court this morning, Mr. Sletzinger was ordered held for a dangerousness hearing on Monday, December 21^st.

UPDATE: (The following is the actually Brewster Police press statement)

BREWSTER, MA – Detectives have made an arrest in the armed robbery that occurred on
Sunday night at the Brewster Farms Market. Michael Sletzinger (age 27) from Brewster has
been taken into custody and charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of larceny, and
four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Mr. Sletzinger will be arraigned tomorrow
morning (Wednesday) at Orleans District Court. Detectives have also been in touch with
detectives in New Bedford who will likely be taking out additional charges for a similar crime in
their community.

The Brewster Police Department would like to thank our partners in the media and those who
shared the information via social media. As a result of the exposure the case received, the
department had several local sources identify Mr. Sletzinger as a suspect. Additional work by
detectives tied him to the case, and after his arrest, he admitted to his involvement.

Initial HN coverage:

BREWSTER – A white male pointed a gun at a cashier and threatened the store owner’s mom… before telling her to “open the drawer,” according to the family that runs Brewster Farms Country Market.

It was terrifying ordeal for the Harwich family who have only owned the store for about a year and a half.

The robber fled the scene on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. A K-9 unit from the Dennis Police responded to assist, but tracking efforts where inconclusive.

Police received a call about the robbery at about 7:00PM. Brewster squad cars were dispatched to the store located at 2771 Route 6A (Main Street), where they secured the scene with yellow tape.

BPD PRESS STATEMENT: Brewster Police Detectives are requesting information regarding the suspect in the picture. The suspect is responsible for an armed robbery with a handgun shown at Brewster Farms Market on Main St in Brewster on 12/13/2015 at 19:00hrs. Approximately $300.00 was taken from the cash register. Any and all information to Brewster Detectives (508)896-7011

The following video begins with surveillance video (furnished by the Brewster PD) and highlights the suspect entering the store… and pulling out a handgun before threatening store employees. HN was told the employees were family members and you can see them trying to protect one another in the footage. The video also shows the scene as police were still gathering evidence.

Take a long careful look at the video footage and photos. Police need to get this guy off the street right away and need your help. HN urges you to call Brewster Detectives at 508-896-7011 if you have any information that will help get this person off our streets and behind bars where he belongs. As the video shows, the man in the video terrorized this hard working family, pointing a gun and threatening them, one of them the older mother of one of the store owners!

[Press play… Select HD in the settings and enlarge player for best quality…]