SYRINGE BILL FACES POSSIBLE CHANGES

State Sen. Chandler Cites Area Robberies

WORCESTER- The robbery of a convenience store with a blood-filled
syringe Tuesday night is the latest in what's become a startling new
statistic for police and legislators who say tougher penalties are
needed for those who use the fear of transmitting a deadly disease
as their weapon of choice.

State Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, D-Worcester, said yesterday she is
moving to amend a bill legalizing the over-the-counter sale of
syringes to include stiff penalties for those who threaten force
with a needle.

"We've seen several of these lately," Mrs. Chandler said. "Now
you've got the potent danger of transmitting a highly
life-threatening disease - AIDS.

"Nobody should have to deal with that."

Mrs. Chandler had supported a bill earlier this winter that would
have legalized the over-the-counter sale of syringes to anyone over
the age of 18 who shows identification. Supporters of the bill said
it would provide access to clean syringes for drug addicts who share
needles, therefore risking the transmission of diseases such as AIDS
and hepatitis. Advocates also said the bill would assist law-abiding
people who are prescribed needles but would have trouble getting one
if a pharmacy is closed - such as someone with diabetes. Similar laws
have been passed in 47 states.

The bill had strong opposition, however, from those who say the
state shouldn 't be sanctioning the sale of needles that would then
be used for illegal purposes, such as shooting heroin.

William T. Breault, of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety, was
a leading force in opposing the bill. He and neighbors complained the
needles would be discarded in backyards and in parks, risking area
children who might come into contact with one.

Nevertheless, the bill gained support and saw the most momentum it
has since it was introduced 10 years ago. It cleared the House,
which had typically rejected the bill, and was on its way to
the state Senate, which had supported it in the past.

The day it was expected to reach the Senate, however, an armed
robbery with a needle in Westboro made statewide headlines.
Legislators were alarmed that someone would use a needle to threaten
another person. They supported the bill because, they said, it would
stop the spread of diseases, but in this case it was the fear of
disease being spread that stopped the bill.

"The Senate is not really prepared to go with this forum," Mrs.
Chandler said at the time. She said then that she supported the bill
but that she and the Senate must consider the implications if
someone used a syringe as a weapon. Since then, there have been at
least three other cases in the area in which someone used a dirty
needle in a robbery.

In the latest case, an Uxbridge man was accused Tuesday night of
stealing a cash register from a Highland Street convenience store
after threatening a clerk with a blood-filled syringe.

Steven J. Lajoie, 30, of 82 Cross St., Uxbridge, was ordered held
without bail yesterday after an arraignment on an armed robbery
charge in Central District Court. Mr. Lajoie allegedly entered the
Honey Farms store at 101 Highland St. shortly after 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday and threatened to stab the clerk with the syringe if his
demand for money was not met.

He then fled with the cash register from the counter of the
D'Angelo's Sandwich Shop located within the store, police said. He
was arrested soon after, still in possession of the cash register.
Lawyer Paul F. Bolton, who was appointed to represent Mr. Lajoie at
his arraignment, said his client denied the allegations.

Judge Martha A. Brennan set $10,000 cash bail on the armed robbery
charge and then ordered that Mr. Lajoie be held without bail pending
a hearing to determine whether he violated the terms of
his probation from a case last year in which he was charged with two
counts of possessing an instrument used to administer a controlled
substance. The case was continued to March 2.

In Fitchburg, a man was arrested after allegedly threatening a CVS
clerk Jan. 8 with a hypodermic needle during a robbery. In that
case, the man, Eric Lacouture, 25, who is homeless, allegedly asked
for a pack of cigarettes and then passed a note to the clerk stating
he would "stick" the clerk with a needle containing the AIDS virus
if he was not given money.

Two weeks later, a woman went into the Dunkin' Donuts on North Main
Street in Leominster and demanded money. The clerk refused, and the
woman then threatened her with a needle. The woman fled without
money, however, when the clerk sounded an alarm notifying police of
a robbery in progress.