NORTHAMPTON — A woman told authorities she was robbed of nearly $300 by three men — one of whom she reported pointed a gun at her from under his jacket — last December and that, after the alleged robbery, she gave him a ride home.
David Bean, 30, of Northampton, pleaded not guilty Friday in Northampton District Court to armed robbery and intimidation.
A woman reported that on Dec. 12 she agreed to drive Bean, whom she knew as an acquaintance, to downtown so that he could catch a bus, according to a police report. On the way, the woman told authorities she stopped at an ATM and withdrew $290 because she was on her way to do some Christmas shopping. Bean reportedly asked the woman if she would also stop at Meadowbrook Apartments “to see two of his friends who sell drugs,” according to the report.
The woman obliged, police said, and waited for Bean while he got out the car and greeted his two friends, whom she later described as Hispanic men in their early 20s. All three men approached the car, and Bean opened the passenger door, saying “Give me the $300,” according to the report. She obeyed and also reported that one of the other men appeared to be pointing a gun at her from under his jacket, police said. Police have not yet identified any other suspects in the case.
The woman told police she also gave the men Clonazepam and Xanax pills she had in her car. That’s when Bean asked her for a ride home. When she dropped Bean off, she recalled to police, he said to her right before exiting the car: “Don’t say anything, or it will be really bad for you.”
Bean told an officer on the phone Dec. 21, Bean told police that the woman asked him for a drug dealer contact and that the last interaction the two had that day was when she dropped him off at the apartments. Bean also denied the incident ever took place when questioned by police and declined to be formally interviewed, saying he wanted to speak with an attorney, police said.
Bean is expected to return to court March 9.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.