Police: Paint Store Robbery Was Faked

Suspect in custody is an employee at the shop and has been charged with larceny and false report of a crime, WCVB reports.

The alleged armed robbery that brought K-9 units and police helicopters to Needham to search for a suspect late Tuesday is now believed to have been a fake, WCVB reports. Needham Police, along with Massachusetts State Police and others in the area, had responded around 5 p.m. to a report of armed robbery at Pittsburgh Paint at 77 Charles St. in Needham. According to reports, the suspect was said to have been wearing a ski mask and showed a firearm before fleeing on foot toward I-95. Police told Patch around 6 p.m. that they had an unnamed man in custody and that the search had been called off. Later that evening, WCVB reported that police had released the suspect's name. Brian McLaughlin, 31, of Stoughton is reportedly an employee at …

• Photos (4)

Reports of an Armed Robbery on Charles Street

State, local police searching for suspect in Highland Avenue area.

  The search is on for a suspect in an armed robbery at 77 Charles St. Reports say the suspect wore a ski mask, showed a firearm and fled on foot toward I-95. State Police helicopters are flying over Needham heights near MUZI Ford right now, numerous sirens can be heard. State Police K9 units are on scene in the Highland Avenue area trying to track the suspect.  Needham Patch will bring you more information as it becomes available. 

• Photos (1)

Daily PatchCast

PatchCast: Truck Style Farming, an Off Duty Arrest and the Fourth of July Comes Early

A video roundup of the area's latest developments for Wednesday, June 29.

Follow the links below for more on today's featured stories:

• Videos (1)