Washburn man faces felony charges Police say suspect took money, other things from Madawaska house

MADAWASKA – A Washburn man who allegedly used a revolver during a robbery and shot at a second man while trying to get away Monday afternoon faces at least two felony charges and possibly more.

Eugene Allen, 31, who told police he also has ties to Rhode Island, remained hospitalized Tuesday under police guard at the Northern Maine Medical Center in Fort Kent, where he was taken due to complications of diabetes after his arrest Monday night.

The police investigation into the incidents was ongoing Tuesday. Police said money and other things were taken in the robbery. They did not say if any of the stolen property was recovered.

“He’s still under a physician’s care, and has not been released from the hospital,” Madawaska Police Chief Ronald Pelletier said Tuesday afternoon. “We have arrested him on two charges.

“He will be taken to a jail, once he’s released by the doctor,” Pelletier said.

The police chief said Allen was charged with robbery and reckless conduct with a firearm. Two other charges may be made after Pelletier consults with the district attorney. Pelletier would not say what those other charges might be.

According to police, Allen robbed a man at gunpoint in a Main Street apartment in Madawaska, bound him with duct tape, and shot in the direction of a second man who was following him while he was making his escape.

About 90 minutes after the incident, Allen was stopped by Maine State Police Trooper Corey Hafford while traveling south on Route 11 in Winterville. While Allen voiced some opposition to his arrest, he offered no physical resistance, according to Hafford on Tuesday.

Pelletier would not comment on why the apartment house, which reportedly housed workers from a local Chinese restaurant, was targeted. The police chief said that was part of an investigation involving another law enforcement agency.

Annie Tang, owner of Tang’s Palace, a Chinese restaurant next to the apartment house, could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

Pelletier said Allen entered the apartment house at about 1:45 p.m. Monday. Several restaurant employees who live in the two-story home are family members of the owner.

Allen allegedly made his way to the second floor of the home, where a 53-year-old man was sleeping. The man’s hands were tied behind his back with duct tape. Duct tape also was placed over his mouth, and a pillowcase was placed over his head.

While the intruder rummaged through the room, allegedly taking money and other things, he heard the victim’s wife coming up the stairs. Pelletier said that the victim, who feared for his wife’s safety, tore the duct tape from his hands and jumped onto the intruder, tearing off a ski mask the suspect wore.

The intruder made his getaway down the stairs, colliding with the woman and throwing her down the stairs, police said.

As the intruder left the home, he was chased by another restaurant worker whom police identified only as Peter. Eric Li, an on-duty restaurant worker who speaks English, left the restaurant and yelled that a man leaving in a bluish car was a robber.

Greg Duplessis of Grand Isle was leaving the shopping center when he heard Li yelling. He placed his 1999 white Hyundai behind the intruder’s 1996 Ford Aspire to block his escape. The suspect left his car, pointed his revolver at Duplessis, and told him to move his car.

After the suspect’s car left, according to Duplessis’ report to police, he realized he had not looked at the license plate of the car, and he followed the car down Main Street.

They turned off Main Street onto Twelfth Avenue where the suspect turned in his car and pointed his gun at Duplessis. The two cars turned onto Acadia Street, and then onto Thirteenth Avenue.

Allen reportedly then stopped his car, got out and fired one shot in Duplessis’ direction. Police found a spent .40 caliber shell on the street.

Fearing for his safety, Duplessis backed away from the scene and collided in a T-bone fashion with another car. The two vehicles had about $1,400 damage.

“Without Duplessis’ efforts, we would not have known the registration number of the car, and we would not have known who we were after,” Pelletier said. “Nobody knew who the intruder was.”

Pelletier contacted local police departments about the incident and asked for them to be on the lookout for the car.

It was 90 minutes later that Hafford spotted the car on Route 11 in Winterville, not far from Quimby Village.

Allen was taken to Madawaska. His vehicle later was towed to the Madawaska Police Department.

Once at the police station, Allen asked for a lawyer. A lawyer was found, and Allen refused to speak with police.

Within a short time, Pelletier said, Allen’s mother called the Madawaska Police Department to inform them of her son’s problems with diabetes. The police chief found Allen having some problems when he went to check on him in the jail cell.

Paramedics were called, Allen was tested and found to be in distress, and he was taken to the hospital where he was kept for treatment.