Groton — Police have arrested a Groton City man they say robbed the Payless shoes store on Route 12 Wednesday evening while brandishing a box-cutter style knife.

John D. Bergeron, 59, entered the store with the box-cutter and demanded money, police said. The store employee complied, and the suspect fled on foot with an undetermined amount of cash. Neither the employee nor a patron in the store at the time were injured, police said.

Payless, at 220 Route 12, is one of several stores in a shopping plaza anchored by Stop & Shop and Kohl's.

Police were called to the scene at 6:21 p.m. The Groton Town police detective and patrol divisions investigated and, with the assistance of Groton Long Point and Westerly police, developed the identity of the suspect.

Bergeron, of 101 Hynes Ave., Apt. 3, Groton City, was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree robbery and second-degree larceny. He was held in lieu of a $75,000 bond.