Cousins face charges in CVS robbery case

 Biddeford police have made two arrests in connection with a May 4 robbery at CVS Pharmacy on Elm Street.

Jessie A. Lavalle, 20, of Wells, was arrested on a charge of robbery and was expected to be arraigned Tuesday. He was taken into custody May 26 in Windham with assistance from the Southern Maine Violent Crimes Task Force, according to Deputy Police Chief JoAnne Fisk.

Andrew Lavalle, 22, of Kennebunk, was arrested May 31 by Kennebunk police on charges of tampering with a witness or informant. Andrew and Jessie Lavalle are cousins, Fisk said.

Police responded to a call reporting the robbery around 11:20 a.m. May 4. Pharmacy employees gave a man oxycontin, but police have not provided details on how the drugs were obtained.

Both men remained in custody at York County Jail Tuesday afternoon.

Police on lookout for unbuckled seat belts

 Biddeford police are taking part in the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign through Sunday.

Police Chief Roger Beaupre said additional patrols have been added in Biddeford specifically to monitor seat belt violations. Any driver or passenger pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt will receive a ticket, he said.

Beaupre said the department is using a combination of federal and state grant money to enhance enforcement of seat belt laws. Police departments across the country are participating in the annual campaign.

Saco police search for Rite Aid robber

Saco police continue to search for a man who robbed Rite Aid last week, prompting Thornton Academy to secure its campus.

Saco Detective Corey Huntress said an unarmed man went into the store around 8 a.m. May 28 and left with an unknown amount of medication. Police asked Thornton Academy, which is across the street from the pharmacy, to secure its perimeter, according to Associate Headmaster Rene Menard.

 Police determined the school was safe within 25 minutes, he said in a prepared statement.

Huntress said the robbery suspect is described as a white male between 25 and 30 years old. He is around 6 feet tall with a slim build, brown hair and brown eyes. Witnesses described his face as tan, dirty or both with a “weathered” appearance. The man also had what looked to be several days’ growth of facial hair, he said.

Anyone with information should call Detective Paul Reynolds at 284-4535.

Saco plans station groundbreaking

The public is invited to the groundbreaking of the new Saco Central Fire Station June 10.

The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. at 271 North St. The lot is across the street from Young School and next to General Dynamics. The rain date is June 11. Attendees can park at the school.

Voters in November approved spending $5.9 million to replace the new station.  The new 21,600-square-foot fire station will include a single-story, 8,260-square-foot area with five bay doors for trucks and a two-story, 13,400-square-foot area for administration and staff living quarters.

OOB celebrates facade improvements

An Old Orchard Beach building will receive a 2010 Downtown Achievement Award for its façade renovation.

The building at 6 East Grand Ave., home to Mr. Goodbar, was named an “outstanding façade project” and will be recognized at the Revitalizing Maine Communities Conference this week in Augusta.The building is owned by George Kerr and the business is owned by Gina and Johnny Martinez.

Ten buildings in the downtown area have or will receive façade renovations funded in part by the Community Enterprise Grant Program provided by the Maine Office of Community Development. 

The town will celebrate the façade improvement program with ribbon cuttings June 10. The first ribbon cutting will be at Beach Bagels Café on Old Orchard Street starting at 2:40 p.m. The ceremony also will include 8 West Grand Ave. (Big Licks Ice Cream, Bernie’s Beach Club, Beach Buffet), Mr. Goodbar at 6 East Grand Ave. and The Oasis at 8 East Grand Ave.

– Compiled by Gillian Graham