PEI

Matthew David Joseph Carter, 32, charged after masked armed robbery

Matthew David Joseph Carter, 32, has been charged with robbery, armed robbery, and covering his face while committing indictable offence in connection to an incident early Thursday morning at the Needs store on University Avenue.

Matthew David Joseph Carter, 32, will be kept in custody for now

Police were still on the scene of the Needs armed robbery gathering evidence at 7 a.m. (Kevin Yarr/CBC)

Matthew David Joseph Carter, 32, has been charged with robbery, armed robbery, and covering his face while committing an indictable offence in connection to an incident early Thursday morning at the Needs store on University Avenue.

Charlottetown Police say he entered the store at about 5:30 a.m. with a knife and his face concealed. He made off with cash, cigarettes and the store clerk's wallet.

Police were told the robber had taken off on a bike, so about 10 officers quickly surrounded the area and a short time later they found and arrested a suspect fitting the description of the robber several blocks away on Spring Park Road.

Police say they recovered cash, cigarettes and the store clerk's wallet.

An RCMP police dog helped Charlottetown Police find evidence.

Carter appeared in court in Charlottetown Thursday afternoon. He will stay in custody until Friday morning, when he is scheduled to appear in court again.

With files from Mitch Cormier and Steve Bruce