Updated: Two arrested in Boothbay Harbor robbery

Tue, 09/20/2016 - 5:15pm

Boothbay Harbor Police arrested two local men for the armed robbery of another man in a Boothbay Harbor hotel in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 18. Police arrested Jeff Cusumano, 55, of Edgecomb, and Tucker Lewis, 22, of Boothbay, for Class A robbery, aggravated assault and aggravated criminal mischief.

According to affidavits filed in Lincoln County Superior Court, BHPD Officer Tom Chryplewicz responded to a report of a robbery and assault that occurred in a room at the Boothbay Harbor Inn. Upon arrival, Chryplewicz observed a 29-year-old male victim, who “had red marks on multiple areas of his body and dried blood on his face.” According to the affidavit, the victim told Chryplewicz that he had been assaulted and robbed at gunpoint.

According to the affidavit, the victim said Lewis came to his hotel room at about 1:30 a.m. and demanded $500. After arguing with Lewis for several minutes, the victim said a second man, whom he did not know, entered the room carrying a silver 9mm handgun. According to the affidavit, the victim said this second man aimed the gun at the victim, pulled the trigger and the gun just clicked.

According to the affidavit, the victim said he eventually gave the men about $120 in cash and his debit card and the men left.  He said that about 20 minutes later, Lewis returned and demanded the card’s PIN. The victim said he refused to give the PIN to Lewis and a fight ensued. Lewis left and the victim said he observed him driving off in a car driven by the man with the gun. The victim then called police.

Lewis’s statement, also included in the arrest affidavits, has some points in common with the victim’s statement. In the affidavit, Lewis said he had been downtown in local bars and at a friend’s apartment, when Cusumano called him. According to the affidavit, Lewis said Cusumano asked Lewis to help him get back money the victim owed Cusumano. Cusumano picked up Lewis downtown and they drove to the Boothbay Harbor Inn. Lewis said he asked the victim to pay the money he owed and the victim refused. Lewis, in the statement, said Cusumano then entered the room and pointed the 9mm semi-automatic weapon at the victim and demanded his money. Once the victim gave them his wallet and debit card, the men left according to Lewis’s statement.

As of Sept. 26, Cusumano and Lewis were still being held at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset. Cusumano’s bail has been set at $7,500 cash or $50,000 surety and Lewis’s bail has been set at $5,000.