Police arrest suspected armed robber

NEW BEDFORD, MASS. (WPRI) -- New Bedford Police have arrested a man they say is responsible for several armed robberies in the city's south end.

Friday morning, detectives arrested 27 year-old Matthew Patee in an apartment at 79 Swift Street, #2.  Police say Patee was arrested on unrelated warrants and found hiding behind a bureau.

He is accused of participating in an armed robbery on August 3rd during which co-defendant Leland Blake Rosa was arrested.  Detectives tell Eyewitness News that Patee, wearing the same clothes he was wearing at the time of the robbery, showed up at St. Luke's Hospital later that day with a head injury.  He gave hospital staff a false name and left without being treated.

Evidence recovered from his apartment Friday morning links him to the armed robbery on August 3rd and several others, for a total of five counts of armed robbery while masked.  He was also found to be in violation of a restraining order at the time of his arrest.