SOUTHAMPTON — A Springfield man was arrested Friday in connection with a 2015 armed robbery case at a Subway sandwich shop where a man allegedly brandished a hypodermic needle at an employee.
Jason M. Houle, 45, of Springfield, was charged with masked armed robbery, Police Chief Michael Goyette said. A DNA analysis on a needle found near the scene helped identify Houle, Goyette said.
“He matched the description,” he said. “Everything matched.”
The incident occurred on Dec. 8, 2015, at Subway’s eatery at 161 College Highway (Route 10).
Houle allegedly pulled out a hypodermic needle, held it in a “threatening manner” and demanded the employee give him all of the money in the cash register, according to police. The amount stolen is undisclosed.
Police looked through video footage of Subway and nearby establishments and found a man fitting the description by the Opa Opa Steakhouse and Brewery. The next day, police investigated the area by the steakhouse and found a hypodermic needle, Goyette said.
The needle went through a DNA analysis. Results came back recently with a match on Houle.
Goyette said Houle was arrested at Hampshire County House of Corrections as he was leaving from serving time for another offense.
Caitlin Ashworth can be reached at cashworth@gazettenet.com.