Youngstown police arrest teen for 4 robberies

YOUNGSTOWN — Police arrested a 17-year-old boy on four robbery counts in a series of drug and discount store robberies in recent weeks.

Police said their canine unit found the suspect, Naquel Gadson, of Youngstown, hiding behind a vacant Market Street building in the Uptown area Thursday evening, shortly after he allegedly robbed the Rite Aid drug store, 2701 Market St., at 9:15 p.m.

Police said their investigation also linked Gadson to a Dec. 21 robbery at CVS, 311 Park Ave., a Dec. 30 robbery at Walgreen’s, 2560 Belmont Ave., and a New Year’s Day robbery at Dollar General, 2023 Market St.

In the robberies, Gadson would attempt to disguise his identity by various means, hand a note demanding money to a store employee and flee on foot after receiving the money, police said.