Man Charged With Armed Robbery After Being Shot By Methuen Police Held Without Bail
METHUEN (CBS) -- A man charged with armed robbery who was shot multiple times after allegedly pulling a gun on Methuen police officers was ordered held without bail at a hospital arraignment Friday afternoon.
James Dobbins, 36, of Methuen, has been charged with four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of armed robbery while masked. A bedside arraignment was held at 2 p.m. at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Four detectives went to the Summit Place apartments on Pleasant Valley Street to question Dobbins when he drew the gun and ran toward them, forcing them to shoot him around 8:30 p.m., investigators said.
Police say Dobbins was shot four times--once in each foot, once in the chest and also in the thigh--before being rushed to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He is expected to survive.
On Thursday morning, Dobbins targeted Salem Cooperative Bank on Merrimack Street but was spooked, police say.
"He entered the bank wearing (a) hat, glasses, (and) gloves," Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon said at a news conference Friday morning.
"A teller immediately approached him and said 'You're not allowed to wear a hat, glasses and gloves in the bank,' and he took them off."
A short time later, police were called to the Pleasant Valley Superette on Merrimack Street at 9:30 a.m. Dobbins allegedly held the clerk at gunpoint before running off with cash.
After reviewing bank surveillance images, police posted an image of the suspect, later identified as Dobbins, on their Facebook page.
Dobbins allegedly called police and said he would be willing to meet with officers, but asked if they could home to his home because he did not have a car to drive to the police station.
Investigators agreed to meet him in the parking lot of the apartment complex.
"They were met by the suspect who suddenly and without warning drew a black firearm," said Methuen Police Captain Randy Haggar during the news conference.
The unidentified officers, who were not hurt, have been placed on administrative leave and have turned over their weapons, which is standard procedure following a police-involved shooting.
No civilians were injured during the shooting.
The incident is being investigated by Methuen and State Police through the Essex County District Attorney's Office.
Dobbins is slated for a dangerousness hearing on May 27.
WBZ-TV's Nicole Jacobs contributed to this report.
