The Keene Sentinel

Monday, April 18, 1994

Victim 'lucky to be alive'

By Peter Fabris

Sentinel Staff

Ronald DesRosiers is feeling lucky to be alive today. DesRosiers, owner of Colonial

Coins and Sports Collectables on Route 12 in North Swanzey, was going through his normal morning routine Friday - taking coins and sports memorabilia from the safe and putting them in his display cases - when a man walked into his store.

DesRosiers asked the man if he needed any help. The man said he was just browsing. "He didn't seem nervous," DesRosiers said. "He wasn't acting funny.” But as DesRosiers kneeled to fill a display case, "I felt something wet in my face,' he said. 'He was maceing me.' The man pulled a gun from a knapsack and struck DesRosiers on the back of the head. Brandishing the pistol, the man said "If you value your life, don't do anything stupid. Don't be a hero," DesRosiers said.

Police allege the gunman was David J. Prevost, 34, of Keene, who is being charged with that robbery and two others in the Monadnock Region Thursday and Friday. The robber put a gun to DesRosiers' back and led him to a bathroom. DesRosiers said that before he was locked in the bathroom, the robber told him: "Take a good look at my face. You're going to have to remember it later."

The robber took a trophy from a shelf, smashed display cases and began stuffing his knapsack with coins and sports cards. "He knew what he was doing," DesRosiers said. “He took the most expensive stuff.” While the robber was stealing from the display cases, Bob Wilber, a friend of DesRosiers, approached the store.

“You've got a customer out here," said the robber. “You'd better open the door and let him in. If you don't, you're going to have a dead body on your conscience." DesRosiers opened the door and let Wilber in. The robber then locked them both in the bathroom.

As they waited in the bathroom, Wilber told DesRosiers he recognized the robber. It was David Prevost, he said; the two had been on the same softball team. After several tense minutes, the store went quiet. DesRosiers called out several times, "can we come out now?"

After about 5 minutes, the two men left the bathroom. The robber was gone, along with $20,000-$25,000 worth of merchandise. DesRosiers called police, and within an hour, Prevost was captured in Jaffrey after a car crash. Police say the merchandise was found in the stolen car Prevost was allegedly driving.