SALEM — A man and a woman have been charged in what police say was a "calculated and planned" armed robbery and carjacking late Monday night in downtown Salem.
Svend Goodwin, 28, of 6 South St., Salem, and Kellie Lemon, 41, of Seabrook, N.H., pleaded not guilty during their arraignments yesterday in Salem District Court to charges of armed robbery, carjacking and receiving a stolen vehicle.
Both are well-known to law enforcement, Goodwin most notably for a reckless driving case that cost a Salem woman her leg in 2001. Lemon was recently released after spending a month in jail on a prostitution charge.
The incident, unusual for Salem, happened just before midnight on Washington Street, in a parking lot in front of Starbucks. The victim, a 26-year-old employee of Tavern in the Square, was leaving work for the night when she noticed a blond woman pacing back and forth in front of the coffee shop, near her car, Salem police Lt. Conrad Prosniewski said.
The victim had just gotten into her car, a 1994 Nissan Sentra, with a purse and a tote bag when a man in a black, hooded sweatshirt approached from behind and prevented her from closing the door.
"Give me all your money or I'll stab you," he said, the victim told police.
She refused, and the man, who appeared to be holding a shiny object, reached in and grabbed her bags, then fled. She chased him a short distance, but then remembered that she had left her car running and went back to the parking lot.
But by then, her car — and the blond woman — were both gone.
Police put out a description, and soon after, Salem State College campus police officer Patricia Brennan spotted the car at the intersection of Canal Street and Forest Avenue.
She followed the car as the driver made several turns, then turned onto Ocean Avenue and shut off the lights.
After briefly losing sight of the Nissan, she found it in a driveway on Hazel Street.
Salem police then found Lemon hiding in a backyard on Hazel Street.
The victim was brought to the scene and identified Lemon.
Questioned by police, Lemon directed them to an apartment at 260 Washington St. where they could find Goodwin.
Police found Goodwin at that apartment, along with the woman's BlackBerry, bank card and other items. The victim identified Goodwin, who, like the robber, was wearing a black hoodie.
"We believe this was a calculated and planned event," said Prosniewski, who asked Judge Richard Mori to set bail at $100,000 for Goodwin and $50,000 for Lemon.
The judge granted both bail requests, despite arguments from lawyers for the pair, who each said their client was pointing the finger at the other.
Goodwin's lawyer, Paul Moraski, said his client, a lifelong Salem resident, has been working recently caring for an elderly woman.
"What we have here is a case of mistaken identity," said Moraski, who suggested that if Goodwin were inclined to steal, he'd steal from his elderly employer.
Moraski also argued that police never found a knife.
"He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," Moraski insisted.
Heidi Shore, who represents Lemon, said her client insists that she was visiting her sister Monday night and was not involved in any carjacking.
"Correct me if I'm mistaken," Mori said, "but didn't the officer follow the motor vehicle being driven by Ms. Lemon?"
Mori went along with Prosniewski's request for the high bail. He also ordered that the pair have no contact with the victim.
A probable cause hearing is scheduled for June 16.
Goodwin gained notoriety locally after the March 2001 crash at the foot of the Beverly-Salem bridge that led to a Salem woman losing her leg. Juliet Bryce, the wife of a Salem city councilor, was coming out of a sub shop when the car Goodwin was driving careened out of control and went into a parked car, which then struck Bryce.
Since then, Goodwin has had a string of run-ins with the law, including violations of his probation in the 2001 case and new drug and larceny charges. Last year, his sister was charged with trying to smuggle a pill to him while he was in custody at the courthouse.
Sgt. Richard Gagnon and Patrolmen James Johnson, Brian St. Pierre and Rafael Gonzalez were involved in the arrest.
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