TOPSHAM

Topsham police arrested a local man Saturday for his alleged role in an armed robbery earlier that day and continue to seek his twin brother for his part in the alleged crime.

Topsham Police Chief Christopher Lewis said that at 10:50 p.m. Saturday, police arrested 18- year-old Matthew Laurelez at his Topsham residence and charged him with armed robbery — a Class A crime punishable by up to 30 years incarceration and a $50,000 fine. He was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset, where he is being held on a $25,000 cash bail.

Police continue to seek his twin brother, Alexander Laurelez, who was not located Saturday and also faces an armed robbery charge.

Lewis said the Laurelez brothers were meeting with a man in the parking lot of the Foreside Recreation Fields on Foreside Road. A female who drove the male victim to the meeting remained in the vehicle during the exchange. The reason for this “mutual meeting” is still under investigation, Lewis said.

During this exchange Lewis said, “the victim is reporting that Alexander pulled out a small chromecolored hand gun, pointed it at him and said something to the effect of: ‘We’re taking your money.’”

At that point, Lewis said, Matthew Laurelez was allegedly standing next to the male victim holding a weapon resembling a bat against the victim’s chest and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim’s person while Alexander Laurelez held the gun.

“And then they told the victim that if he reported the incident, that he was going to die,” Lewis said.

Lewis said police don’t know the delay time was between when the alleged incident occurred and when officers took the report, but they did locate Matthew Laurelez at his home on Salem Street and arrested him. Police are still working to locate Alexander Laurelez.

Also as part of this ongoing investigation, Topsham police received a report at 4:50 p.m. Sunday that the girlfriend of Matthew Laurelez allegedly threatened the male victim directly using electronic messages via computer. Police arrested Samantha Williams, 19, of Bowdoin and charged her with tampering with a witness, informant, victim or juror. She was also charged with violation of conditions of release, and ineligible for bail, she was transported to Two Bridges Regional Jail.