Police K9 tracks down gas station robber

PORTLAND, Conn. (WTNH) -- A Portland man was arrested after robbing a Portland gas station and being tracked down by a police K9 Thursday.

The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m., at the Portland Citgo Gas Station, located at 1633 Portland Cobalt Rd.

While officers were responding to the scene, dispatch received information from the clerk that a white male had entered the store displaying a knife and demanding money from the register.

The clerk described the suspect as being 6' tall, thin, wearing a black fleece jacket, sweatpants, sunglasses and a baseball hat.

The suspect fled westbound along Portland Cobalt Rd. on foot. The clerk followed the suspect out of the store and watched as they turned onto Brickyard Rd.

Officers responded to the scene forming a perimeter, and a K9 was requested from the Middletown Police Department.

While attempting to track the suspect, an officer and his K9 Hunter located a discarded black fleece jacket that had been discarded by the suspect before continuing down the road along the banks of the CT River edge.

The track continued to the Riverdale Motel where the suspect was located and Hunter made a positive ID of the person involved.

The suspect, 40-year-old John Senesac, of 1503 Portland Cobalt Rd., was arrested on an active violation of probation warrant while officers continue to investigate the robbery.

When officers conducted a search of Senesac's apartment they found the knife and clothing used in the incident. The stolen money was also discovered during the search of the room.

Both video surveillance from the Citgo Gas Station and the Riverdale Motel confirmed Senesac's involvement.

He was charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree threatening, and sixth-degree larceny. He is being held on $100,000.