Customer Fights With Alleged Knife-Wielding Robber Holding Office Employees

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A customer fought an alleged knife-wielding robber who was holding employees of a Main Street insurance company against their will this morning, said on Friday.

At approximately 9:55 a.m., Melrose Police received a call reporting a robbery in progress at the Williams and Alley Insurance Company, 837 Main St., Melrose Police Lt. Mark DeCroteau said in a written release.

The caller reported that the would-be robber was in an altercation with a customer in the office, Decroteau said. Police arrived a short time later, and intervened as the customer was struggling with the robber.

"It is apparent that this suspect made a forced entry to the office prior to business hours," Decroteau said in the release. "When two employees arrived prior to opening, they found the suspect inside. The suspect was armed, and held the employees, demanding money. The employees were able to signal to the arriving customers, who alerted police."

A witness told Melrose Patch she heard a woman screaming from across the street, then watched six police officers run into the building.

Melrose Police have not released the name of the alleged robber because he is still being booked, processed and having his identification verified, DeCroteau said.

An ambulance also responded to the office after police arrested the alleged robber, but DeCroteau said there were no injuries stemming from the incident.

The case remains under investigation, but DeCroteau said that at this time it appears the business was randomly targeted.

Check back at this article later for more details as they become available.