Police: 18-year-old arrested for robbing stores armed with meat cleaver

CANTON, Mass. — Canton Police say they have arrested the man who -- armed with a meat cleaver -- has been breaking into and robbing stores in the Cobb Corner area.

Mathew Kiernan, 18, of Sharon is facing armed robbery and other charges following his arrest Tuesday in Canton.

Early Tuesday morning, police noticed a person on a bike acting suspiciously near the Domino's Pizza on Washington Street. Police say there was a brief pursuit before the suspect hit a curb, causing him to fall off the bike. Police say Kiernan was taken into custody after a brief struggle.

>> Previous: Suspect robbed Canton, Stoughton stores armed with meat cleaver, police say

Police in Canton and Stoughton have been on alert for a suspect armed with a meat cleaver after three incidents in the past week. In all of the incidents, the suspect came into or broke into the stores dressed in all black, including a black mask and brandished a meat cleaver before taking off on an electric bicycle.

Police say at the time of his arrest, Kiernan was dressed in the all black items worn in the armed robberies. Police also found a crowbar and meat cleaver in his backpack.

Kiernan has been charged with armed robbery while masked, assault to commit a felony, larceny from a person, breaking and entering a building at night, malicious damage of property, possession of burglarious tools and resisting arrest. During his arraignment Tuesday, a judge sent him to a mental health facility where he is being held for 20 days.

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