By Jim Clark

A Somerville police officer’s suspicions were aroused as he reportedly observed a backpack-wearing man pacing nervously outside the Walgreen’s store on Broadway last week.

The officer, cruising in an unmarked patrol car, said that he observed the man, later identified as Jason Gachignard, 30, of Lynn, hide himself from view as a marked police car drove by, then reemerge after the cruiser left the area.

The officer parked his patrol car nearby and continued watching Gachignard, who appeared to be waiting for someone to come out of the store.

The officer then approached Gachignard, identifying himself as a policeman, and then asked the man what his business was at the store.

Gachignard reportedly told the officer that he was waiting for two of his friends to come out of teh Walgreen’s.

At that moment a woman, Angelina Goss, 27, of Lynn came out of  the store and walked past Gachignard and the officer. Gachignard, however, informed the officer that she was one of the friends he was waiting for.

Goss was stopped by the officer, who noted that she too appeared to be nervous, and was carrying a large handbag.

A third individual, Robert Ventullo, 27, also of Lynn, soon exited the store, and he was identified as the second companion that Gachignard had been waiting for.

The officer noted that Ventullo was also carrying a backpack and that he appeared to be nervous as well, according to reports.

All three individuals were instructed to show the contents of their bags, which reportedly turned up various items taken from the store, unpaid for.

The store manager inventoried the items and listed their value at $674.71, police said.

The three suspects were placed under arrest, each charged with larceny over $250.