NORTHAMPTON — A suspect who police say robbed a man at knife-point after he withdrew cash from an ATM downtown last month has been brought into custody.
Emilio Rivera, 30, of Holyoke, has been charged with armed robbery, and pleaded not guilty in Northampton District Court on Dec. 5. He remains at the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction on $10,000 cash bond.
Northampton police said that, at about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 29, a man was withdrawing cash — $300 in $20 bills — from the Bank of America ATM on Main Street when Rivera entered the ATM lobby.
Rivera talked with the bank customer at the ATM, according to a police report, and eyed him as he counted his bills. Rivera, who was traveling with an unidentified man and woman, left the area in a white car with a damaged passenger-side headlight. The customer and a friend left on bikes after withdrawing the cash.
As the two approached the WWII Club on Conz Street, the same white vehicle pulled in front of them as Rivera exited the car, police said. With a hand in his coat pocket, Rivera told the men he had a gun and demanded money.
As Rivera stuck his hand in the man’s pocket to snatch his wallet, the man pleaded for him to take the cash and leave behind his personal items and identification, according to the report.
Then Rivera pulled out a knife with a three-inch blade, police said, and pointed it at the man’s face after taking his cash, throwing the wallet on the ground. Rivera got back into the white car, with another man and woman inside, and fled the area, police said.
Barely five hours after the alleged robbery, Rivera was arrested by Holyoke police on an unrelated warrant. Police identified Rivera after reviewing surveillance footage from the Bank of America.
Rivera has a lengthy criminal past, with at least 45 unspecified incidents, according to police, and had served six months for assault and battery in 2014 and 90 days for assault and battery on a police officer in 2005. Both matters were heard in Holyoke District Court, records show.
He is due back in court Feb. 6 to face the new charges.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.