Federal Marshals Arrest Needle-Wielding Suspect in N.H.

A WHAV website reader was among those who helped identify the man above from a photograph of surveillance video.

As a result of a WHAV website reader and others who identified a syringe-wielding attempted robbery suspect, U.S. Marshals arrested the man in New Hampshire this morning.

John Parsons, 22, of Ossipee, N.H., is facing arraignment as a fugitive from justice this morning in Carrol County in the vicinity of White Mountain National Forest. Haverhill Police Captain Robert P. Pistone said Parsons faces extradition to Massachusetts, where he will be arraigned on an armed robbery charge in Haverhill District Court.

“We received numerous tips as a result of WHAV and other media outlets that lead to his arrest,” Pistone said.

The suspect allegedly used a hypodermic needle to threaten a store clerk at Cumberland Farms, 426 Lowell Ave., earlier this month. The suspect “grabbed a can of Coke and approached the clerk, pulled out an uncapped needle, pointed it at the clerk and demanded all of the money,” Pistone said. “When the clerk asked if the male was joking the robber stated, ‘do you want aids?’ Another customer entered the store which appears to have spooked the would be robber and he fled on foot towards McDonalds.”

Haverhill police distributed a photograph, taken from surveillance video, and asked for the public’s help in identifying

The incident took place at about 8:30 p.m., Tuesday at Cumberland Farms, 426 Lowell Ave.