A 25-year-old Ipswich man is facing charges of armed robbery and shoplifting by asportation after an incident at a CVS pharmacy in Boston's West End, where he reportedly threatened an employee with a syringe filled with his own blood. In a statement obtained by Boston.com, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced that Robert Griffin Sullivan would appear for a pre-trial hearing on August 21st following his arrest on July 29th.

According to Hayden's office, relayed by MassLive, the alleged threat occurred when the store employee confronted Sullivan attempting to exit the CVS with unpaid items, including paper towels and cashew nuts. The suspect reportedly said, “Not today man. You stop me and I will pull out a needle full of my blood and stick you with it.” Subsequently charged, the 32-page history of Sullivan's crimes, wearing a green Under Armour T-shirt and black shorts, was noted for charges such as larceny, assault and battery, and leaving the scene of an injured person.

Later that day, Boston Police responded to a call regarding the Theft at approximately 8:16 a.m. Officers apprehended Sullivan on Avenue De Lafayette in Downtown Crossing at around 4:30 p.m., after spotting him wearing clothing identical to the description provided by the CVS employee and seen on surveillance footage, according to details provided by the Suffolk district attorney's office. Initially denying his presence at the CVS, Sullivan later admitted, saying, “I gave the stuff back.” Police found five empty syringes in his fanny pack upon his arrest.

"This is a prime example of the type of conduct that endangers employees and has a broader impact on consumers," Hayden said, as seen by an armed robbery charge stapled to the suspect's record, emphasizing the safety rights of employees and consumers alike. Officials say that amid growing safety concerns and an uptick in retail crime, the Suffolk district attorney's office has engaged with local retailers and business owners to discuss strategies against shoplifting and ensure protection for workers and shoppers. These discussions come against the backdrop of shop closures, especially detrimental to minority communities in the Boston area.