PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) – Punxsutawney Borough Police have made an arrest in connection with an October 23 attempted armed robbery in the borough.
The incident happened around 11:09 a.m. in the parking lot of the Punxsy Plaza near Uni-Mart when a white male attempted to rob an elderly woman at gun point, according to police.
Punxsutawney Police Chief James Borza says the victim fooled the suspect by saying “there’s the police!”. The suspect subsequently dropped the gun and kicked it under a car before fleeing the scene.
The gun turned out to be a “look-a-like BB gun,” according to Chief Borza.
Police later obtained video surveillance showing the would-be robber driving a red vehicle. A photo of the vehicle was shown to Geoffrey Brackman of Kuntz Chevrolet in Punxsutawney who was able to tell police the exact make, model, and year of the suspect’s vehicle.
On Sunday around 9:18 a.m., Punxsutawney Borough Police Officer Clement intiated a traffic stop after he spotted a vehicle matching the description.
During the traffic stop, the operator, Robert Scott, 23, was asked several questions in reference to his vehicle and his whereabouts on October 23.
Scott told police that his mother was using his car on that date. Police contacted Scott’s mother who stated that she did not use the car on October 23. At that point, Scott was released from the traffic stop.
Police say the victim was then able to pick Robert Scott out of a photo array lineup.
Punxsutawney Borough Police and Punxsutawney-based State Police subsequently went to the 700 block of Route 119 North in Punxsutawney to arrest Scott.
Upon the officer’s arrival, Scott was allegedly in the process of attempting “to paint his red Chevrolet vehicle black to change its description.”
“He was taken into custody literally ‘Black Handed'”, said Chief Borza.
The following charges were subsequently filed against Scott at District Judge Douglas Chambers’ office.
– Robbery-Threatening Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1
– Robbery-Commit/Threat, Felony 1
– Robbery-Inflict Threat Immediate Bodily Injury, Felony 2
– Terroristic Threats w/ Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1
Scott was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail in lieu of $80,000 cash bail.
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