$200,000 cash bail in jewelry heist.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Gary V. Murray

WORCESTER - Bail was set at $200,000 cash yesterday for a 24-year-old city man charged with an armed robbery Tuesday afternoon at a West Boylston Street jewelry store that left the store owners injured.

Christopher J. Fiorentino, of 61 Valley View Lane, was arrested in connection with the holdup at Garabedian's Jewelers at 613 West Boylston St. and was arraigned yesterday in Central District Court on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts each of armed robbery while masked and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and vandalism.

Prosecutors said one of the owners of the store, identified in court records as 65-year-old Garabed Garabedian, was stabbed in the face and abdomen during the robbery and his wife, listed in court records as Joanne Garabedian, was struck several times in the head with a blunt object.

Both were taken to a local hospital. Police said Mr. Garabedian's injuries were serious, but not life-threatening and that his wife suffered a laceration to her side.

Mr. Fiorentino allegedly smashed several display cases and fled with stolen jewelry, some of which he still had in his possession at the time of his arrest, according to Assistant District Attorney Roberta A. O'Brien.

State Trooper Erin McLaughlin, on duty for just over a week, was credited with helping to capture Mr. Fiorentino. She and her field training officer, Trooper Jeffrey Gilbert, said they were on a motor vehicle stop in front of Quinsigamond Community College shortly before 3 p.m. when a passer-by told them that a man had been assaulted down the street.

As the troopers approached, witnesses said the jewelry store had been robbed and pointed out where a suspect had run across the street. Trooper McLaughlin said she took off on foot in that direction while Trooper Gilbert drove his cruiser down the street.

Trooper Gilbert...