Police corner robbery suspect in Filbert home
REDSTONETWP. – Local and state police, including the Special Emergency Response Team surrounded a house in Filbert on Tuesday night where a suspected robber was holed up on Second Street. Area fire departments were called in to assist with traffic control and to help shed light on a house believed to contain the suspect.
The incident began sometime after 6 p.m., starting with the robbery of Jackson Farm Dairy on Route 40 at 6:02 p.m.
Kerry Harvey, a partner in the business, said a white male in his 30s entered the store wearing a ball cap and a long-sleeved shirt.
“He said he had a gun and he wanted the money. The employee gave him the money and that was it. There were a lot of people in the store and nobody even knew it was going on,” Harvey said.
Harvey said it’s the first time the store has been robbed during business hours since it opened in 1986, most likely because the store is always busy.
“I have digital photography here, so I have close-ups and everything,” Harvey said.
As of 10:30 p.m., Harvey still hadn’t seen a police officer – they were all at the scene in Filbert. The officers had intended to use teargas to get the suspect to leave the house, but it was not used as of press time. Firefighters from Republic, Tower Hill 2, New Salem, Allison2, and Adah also were at the scene.
Residents were asked either to stay in their homes or stay away from the area. Neighbors were directed to a house at Pine and First streets in Filbert.
Most residents had little real information about what was going on, even the relatives of the local firefighters.
“I came down to see my husband and see where he’s at. He’s directing traffic, thank God. He’ll be home tonight,” said Mary Anne Vance. “Thirty years of being a firefighter, and I just want to keep him alive.”
Vance said she thought her husband had just been called out for an accident, not a potentially life-threatening situation. She said she was glad he was on the edge of the situation, not near the house where the alleged robber was staying.
In addition to the state police, police officers from Brownsville Borough and Redstone and Luzerne townships responded to the scene, as did state constables.
Fayette County HAZMAT and Fayette EMS also were on the scene.