The Recorder – Greenfield Police arrest Northampton man for theft, assault at Mobil station

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Police arrested a Northampton man on Friday after reviewing surveillance footage that shows him stealing money from the Mobil gas station on the Mohawk Trail.

Carlos R. Benvenutty, 42, of Northampton, faces charges of larceny from a building, disorderly conduct, and assault and battery. Police Lt. Dan McCarthy said he expects Benvenutty to be arraigned in Greenfield District Court on Monday and the suspect will be kept at the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction until arraignment.

McCarthy said officers from his department were dispatched to the Mobil station at 142 Mohawk Trail, across from the Applebee’s restaurant, at 2:44 pm on Friday following multiple 911 calls reporting two men and a woman fighting in the parking lot. McCarthy said an investigation revealed that a clerk at the gas station went outside to change the displayed gas price numbers and noticed a man reaching behind the counter inside. According to McCarthy, the clerk reentered the building and reviewed surveillance footage that showed a man walking into the building, going behind the counter and grabbing a bundle of cash meant for the gas station’s safe.

The clerk, McCarthy said, then noticed the man in the surveillance footage was still in the parking lot and he confronted him, leading to the physical altercation. McCarthy said the woman present is Benvenutty’s friend who had offered him a ride.

McCarthy said Benvenutty was arrested at around 3:45 pm A subsequent search of the woman’s vehicle yielded the exact amount of money stolen from the gas station. McCarthy declined to disclose how much money was taken.

McCarthy said the clerk was transported by American Medical Response (AMR) to Baystate Franklin Medical Center to be treated for minor face and head injuries. McCarthy noted that while the clerk’s actions kept the suspect on the scene, confronting the man was very dangerous.

“It’s never a good thing to take matters into your own hands,” he advised.

Reach Domenic Poli at: [email protected] or 413-930-4120.