Robbery suspect nabbed while holed up in Granby hotel

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

GRANBY — A Turners Falls woman wanted by police in connection with a string of area robberies was found hiding out at The Granby Motel on West State Street Monday, police said.

Carla D. Holmstrom, 34, of 76 Avenue A., pleaded innocent Tuesday in Northampton District Court to charges of assault to rob while armed, assault with a hypodermic needle and robbery while armed with a firearm.

Holmstrom's bail was set by Judge Richard J. Carey at $100,000 cash or $1 million personal surety.

Easthampton police declined to say how they discovered Holmstrom was staying at the motel Tuesday afternoon.
Police believe Holmstrom was behind the recent robberies of two Northampton businesses and a third in Greenfield and obtained a warrant for her arrest Monday.

Holmstrom allegedly used a syringe to rob a Subway at 32 Union St. in Easthampton March 27, when she pointed the uncapped needle at employee Erik Pardee and passed him a note saying, "I am infected with AIDS. I will stick you with this needle if you do not give me money now," Detective Sgt. Mark Popielarczyk said in a court filing.

On Thursday at Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters, 47 Union St., Holmstrom allegedly passed a note to employee Allison Ginsberg demanding money and saying she had a gun.

The clerk gave the suspect $105 from the cash register, according to Popielarczyk's report.

Holmstrom lived on Pleasant Street in Easthampton as recently as January 2009, according to court papers. She is currently on probation for previous convictions for drug possession, unarmed robbery and assault and battery.

Holmstrom will also be arraigned on another armed robbery charge in Greenfield. Police there say Holmstrom showed a similar note and made off with hundreds of dollars at a tanning salon, also on Thursday.

Witnesses to the Greenfield robbery told police a woman entered Solar Express at 176 Federal St. and told employee Brianna Cooley that she had a gun and wanted $10 and $20 bills.

According to police, Cooley at first said she couldn't open the register, but the woman walked around to the employee side of the counter and allegedly said, "Well figure it out, because I've got a gun and I will use it."

After the suspect fled with an undetermined amount of money, Cooley ran to get her boss, Alex Fiorey, who dashed outside in time to see a blue Chrysler 300 speed away.

Holmstrom is due to return to court for a pretrial hearing on June 11.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.