BIDDEFORD, Maine—A cheese shop in this quaint New England town became the scene of an unsettling crime over the weekend, as police are now investigating the armed robbery at Nibblesford Cheese Shop, which occurred on Sunday. According to NBC Boston, the perpetrator, who showcased a gun during the heist, prompted an urgent police response to the establishment located at 5 Washington St. just before 3:00 p.m.
The aftermath of the crime led to the arrest of 51-year-old Russell Pease, who is facing charges of robbery, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a scheduled drug, as confirmed by police and reported by Boston.com; however, it remains unclear as to what items were taken from the cheese shop, but the police, working in conjunction with Old Orchard Beach colleagues, apprehended Pease in Old Orchard Beach. Pease's bail was set at $250,000, and he is currently being held at York County Jail pending a court hearing.
In a message to the public, Nibblesford expressed gratitude for the community's concern following the episode, writing on Facebook, "Everyone is fine but we were robbed at gunpoint." The cheese shop, a local hub for dairy aficionados since opening in 2021, received an outpouring of support from residents and customers alike, a sentiment echoed in their social media updates quoted by The Press Herald.
The robbery, which transpired in broad daylight, startled the Biddeford community; the police were still on the hunt for the suspect as of Sunday night, describing him as 6 feet tall, masked, and dressed in "shabby clothes", the suspect fled on foot—this detailed profile was based on descriptions provided to The Press Herald. The cheese shop, founded by brothers Ian and Travis Kern, prides itself on presenting Mainers with premier cheese selections, a mission momentarily overshadowed by the unfortunate event.
