HOLYOKE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Holyoke Police Department responded to a call of a armed robbery in progress at an apartment on Essex Street.

When officers arrived to the home, police were in contact with a person inside the apartment, but refused to open the door for them. As soon as police were able to get inside the home, the suspect managed to flee the apartment and out of the building.

After searching, police managed to find the suspect, 22-year-old Aqil Rios-Thomas of Springfield, in an alleyway and quickly placed him under arrest.

Police then searched the apartment and managed to find an illegally owned handgun. Rios-Thomas is now facing a slew of charges from armed robbery and illegal possession of a firearm.

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