TILTON — An 18-year-old homeless man was captured just four minutes after allegedly robbing the Big Apple Store on Main Street Sunday night.

The suspect, David Bickford, was arraigned Monday in Franklin District Court, charged with one felony count of armed robbery, felony theft by unauthorized taking, felony criminal threatening with a weapon, and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest or detention. He is being held on $25,000 cash bail at Belknap County Jail in Laconia.

Police Chief Robert Cormier said the store clerk alerted police to the robbery at 8:30 p.m., providing them with a description and direction of travel. Bickford had escaped on foot and the clerk didn't see a car. Officers responded to the area immediately and found Bickford hiding by a riverbank in the dark near Elm and Granite streets. He was taken into custody and arrested without incident by 8:34 p.m.

“It all happened within four minutes,” said Cormier.

Cormier said Bickford, dressed in a hooded sweatshirt with his face covered, handed the store clerk a note demanding cash. The note stated he had a gun. However, after he was arrested, police recovered a butcher knife, but no handgun. Cormier said the note, and nearly $800 in stolen cash, was also recovered. Bickford told police he was homeless but had previously lived in Laconia.

A probable cause hearing is scheduled for March 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Belknap 4th Circuit Court in Laconia.