NORTHAMPTON — A Ware man denied in court Monday that he threatened another man with a hypodermic needle during a March robbery at a Big Y supermarket in Amherst.
Matthew Witaszek, 32, pleaded not guilty in Hampshire to charges of armed robbery, larceny under $250 and assault by means of a dangerous weapon in Hampshire Superior Court.
Witaszek was arrested in March after allegedly waving a hypodermic needle in a threatening manner at a Big Y employee at the supermarket’s store at 175 University Drive, according to police.
Officers were called to the supermarket just after 7 p.m. on March 31 after store security observed Witaszek walk out of the sore without paying for $123 worth of merchandise, Detective Jamie Reardon said at the time.
Witaszek was released on conditions that he not take an illegal drug or drink alcohol and that he remain in a residential rehab center.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.