Man, woman arrested for Palmer McDonalds robbery

PALMER, Mass. (WWLP) - Palmer police say that they’ve arrested a former McDonald’s employee, who along with a woman, robbed the Thorndike Street McDonald’s restaurant at knifepoint early Wednesday morning.

According to a news release from Chief Robert Frydryk, Levi J. Jack, 24, of Monson, and Sabrina Dennice Smith, 23, of Petersham, were arrested at Jack’s home on Harrison Avenue in Monson Wednesday afternoon.

During the robbery, police say that a man and woman, both armed with large hunting knives and wearing ski masks, got into the restaurant through the back door and demanded money; threatening the three employees inside. The workers’ cell phones were taken, and the building’s landline phone was smashed to prevent them from calling the police.

One worker was hurt as he shielded his face while Jack allegedly tried to hit him with the handle of the knife.

Based partly on information from the restaurant’s workers, they were able to obtain a search warrant for Jack’s home. Once there, they found both suspects, as well as the clothing and hunting knives believed to have been used in the robbery.

Frydryk says that the help of the employees was important in solving this case. “To their credit, the employees, even though they had gone through a very frightening experience, provided us with some very detailed information about the suspects and a possible vehicle,” he said.

Both Jack and Smith are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Palmer District Court.