Police say the man they caught after an armed robbery attempt at Westport Apothecary last Tuesday turned out to be wanted for a variety of offenses in several surrounding towns.

In fact, minutes before his Westport attempt, he had fled from Dartmouth Police in the direction of Westport after hitting a car in the Target parking lot while driving a relative’s 2010 Dodge Caliber without permission.

Westport Police say they received several emergency calls at 1:36 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, reporting an armed robbery at Westport Apothecary, 784 Main Road.

Witnesses said the female clerk showed him an empty money bag and the suspect, later identified as 29-year-old x of 47 Hamlet Street, Fall River, demanded lottery tickets.

“The clerk was extremely shaken and as she attempted to remove the tickets she yelled for help to additional staff working in the rear of the store, said Westport Detective Sergeant Tony Cestodio.

The suspect then fled the store empty handed. He was described as a Caucasian male wearing a dark sweatshirt and jeans, dark knit cap and a scarf pulled up to partially conceal his face.

Several officers began searching the area. Meanwhile Sergeant Johnny P. Couto was in the area of Harry’s General Store, 646 American Legion Highway, when he spotted a man matching the suspect’s description. He saw the man enter the store and decided to wait until the suspect left to avoid a possible hostage situation. While he waited, officer Dave Leite arrived to assist.

Mr. Tunney-Lassiter later told police that he had spotted the officer when he entered Harry’s. When he went inside he placed a metal rod on a store shelf in attempt, police said, to conceal it. He then bought a bottle of headache medicine, checked out at the register and, when he went out the door, was greeted by the two officers who took him into custody

Investigators recovered the metal bar — it was half of a steering wheel locking device.

Police discovered two outstanding warrants for Mr. Tunney-Lassiter. One was for a Somerset armed robbery in December and the second was for larceny and motor vehicle offenses in Fall River. He will also answer charges in Westport regarding the parking lot accident.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Westport Police Detective Division.