Suspect in savage armed robbery arrested after girlfriend allegedly shoplifted…
HYANNIS – A couple weeks ago, some nut-job robbed a cab driver after stabbing him with a screwdriver.
Since then, detectives have done their darnedest to hunt the loathsome beast… and put him in a cage where he belongs.
Stephen Rafuse, age 37, was identified as an alleged suspect in the savage November 5th armed robbery. He is also suspected to be involved in several other theft related crimes in and around Barnstable.
Detectives also learned Rafuse likely fled the Barnstable area after the robbery.
Yesterday, 11/20/14, Patrolwoman Megan Cunningham developed information that Rafuse was hiding out in the Bourne area with his girlfriend Lesley Townsend, age 34.
Barnstable Police Detectives began searching the town of Bourne for Rafuse and Townsend.
Investigators were able to track down and tail the couple as they drove off-Cape yesterday afternoon.
Rafuse and Townsend were observed pulling in and out of various South Shore shopping plazas. They appeared to be casing stores to shoplift from.
Detectives watched as Rafuse dropped Townsend off at a TJ Maxx in Norwell, and then a JC Penny in Hanover…
On each occasion, Townsend was seen hastily exiting with store merchandise.
After confirming thefts from both department stores, BPD Detectives teamed up with Plymouth Patrol Officers and stopped the couple at a Plymouth gas station parking lot.
A search of their vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately $1000 worth of stolen property, including purses and a coffee maker.
Rafuse and Townsend were arrested for Receiving Stolen Property over $250 and transported to Plymouth Police Headquarters for booking.
Note: Townsend also had four outstanding arrest warrants charging her with various larcenies.
Following interviews with both suspects regarding the Hyannis Taxi Robbery, detectives developed probable cause to charge Stephen Rafuse with Armed Robbery, A&B Dangerous Weapon (screwdriver), and Larceny (over $250).
Both suspects were then brought back to Barnstable Police Headquarters, where they were held overnight.
Townsend was arraigned in Barnstable District Court this morning on the outstanding warrants and was released to appear in Plymouth District Court on the Receiving Stolen Property charge.
Rafuse was held on $7500 bail.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty…
Press details and booking photos provided by the Barnstable Police Detective Division.
