SACO — An Old Orchard Beach man was hospitalized for a drug overdose Monday night after he tried to rob a Saco convenience store with a steak knife but was chased off by the owner, police said.

Mark A. Cassette, 27, was taken to Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford and will be charged with robbery, a Class A felony, once he is released and is well enough to be interviewed by officers, said Jeffrey C. Holland, Saco’s deputy police chief.

Holland said Cassette entered the Saco Bay Variety Store at 216 Beach St. around 7:55 p.m. Monday and demanded that the owner give him money from the cash drawer. Cassette was armed with what police are calling a steak knife.

The store owner refused and reached for a lead pipe that he keeps under the counter, police said. Cassette fled with the owner in pursuit of him. Witnesses said Cassette got into a car and drove off.

Officers located a vehicle that matched the description given them by the witnesses and followed Cassette to his mother’s residence on 14 Wilson Drive in Old Orchard Beach. Police said they believe that Cassette also lives there.

Saco and Old Orchard Beach police surrounded the home and were able to make contact with Cassette’s mother after about 90 minutes. She gave officers permission to enter the home, and Cassette was taken into police custody.

Police said Cassette consumed an unknown quantity of drugs in an overdose attempt.


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