Robbery, kidnapping suspect returned to Pennsylvania
Bank robbery and kidnapping suspect Timothy Michael Green, who was captured in Preston County, W.Va., early Thursday, waived extradition to Pennsylvania on Friday. “He was extremely cooperative,” said Preston County Sheriff Ronald Crites.
Crites said Pennsylvania State Police transported Green to Pennsylvania immediately after his Friday afternoon arraignment and extradition hearing. He was expected to be lodged in the Washington County Jail.
Green, 37, of 603 N. Main St., Apt. 3, Washington, is suspected in a number of incidents since May 29, with charges pending in five jurisdictions.
In Fayette County, Green is suspected of robbing the Jackson Farm Dairy on Route 40 last Tuesday and breaking into the McClellandtown home of John Joseph Sismondo Thursday. According to police, Sismondo was held at gunpoint, his bankcard and vehicle were stolen, and he was tied up with duct tape in an eight-hour ordeal that ended early Friday. Green was caught a short while later after state police spotted him driving Sismondo’s stolen Jeep. Green was chased into West Virginia, where he eventually surrendered.
In Fayette County, Green faces felony charges of kidnapping, robbery, theft by unlawful taking and burglary as well as misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint, terroristic threats and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The charges are contained in a criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause filed in District Justice Brenda K. Cavalcante’s office in Masontown by state police trooper Scott A. Krofcheck.
Sismondo, 53, arrived at his 303 College Ave. home Wednesday around 8 p.m. and found Green asleep on the living room couch, according to the affidavit.
Green awoke and allegedly pointed Sismondo’s .308-caliber hunting rifle at him, told him he was not going to get hurt and told him to duct tape his legs together.
Green allegedly duct taped Sismondo’s arms to a chair then left with the keys to the victim’s car. He returned about 10 minutes later and told the victim to drive him to Sismondo’s ex-wife’s house in California, where Sismondo kept his red Jeep, according to the affidavit.
The two arrived at the 1033 Bowdler St., California, residence, where they left the car and took the Jeep, with Sismondo driving and Green in the back seat, police said. Following Green’s instruction, Sismondo withdrew $200 from his account at an automated teller machine, according to the affidavit.
They drove back to Sismondo’s house, where Green told the victim to go into his bedroom and go to sleep. Around 4:20 a.m. Thursday, Green told Sismondo to come into the living room and again duct taped him to chair, police said. Green allegedly then told his captive host that he was leaving to get something from another man and that he would return in 10 to 15 minutes.
After Green left in the Jeep, Sismondo freed himself and called Fayette County 911 from a neighbor’s house.
A short time later, state police spotted Green traveling in the Jeep on Route 40 near Hopwood, and several troopers pursued him into Preston County.
Green wrecked and then fled on foot but was apprehended inside a barn. Police said the rifle and a black fanny pack, which contained tools, two metal pipes with an unknown type of residue inside and a kitchen knife, were found in the Jeep. A handgun taken from Sismondo’s house also was found in the vehicle, police said.
Krofcheck’s affidavit also contains some details from an interview that FBI agent Peter Stoneham conducted with Green.
Stoneham reported that Green watched Sismondo’s home from some nearby woods on Wednesday and entered through an unlocked front window.
Green went through the residence, changed into some of Sismondo’s clothes and found his rifle and handgun, police said.
Green reportedly said he fell asleep and was startled by Sismondo when he arrived home.
Green also is suspected in a string of bank robberies in Washington County, including three robberies within eight days at the Northwest Savings Bank in the Wal-Mart Superstore.
South Strabane Township Police Sgt. Walter Alrutz said he didn’t care if Green was arraigned first in Washington or Fayette County. South Strabane officers already have filed charges against Green for two of the bank robberies and expect to file charges against him for the third, Alrutz said. The local charges most likely will be withdrawn once federal charges are filed against Green for the bank robberies, he added.
“We’re patient. As long as he’s behind somebody’s bars, I’m happy. I spent two weeks chasing him,” Alrutz said.
More than 60 members of the state police Special Emergency Response Team, as well as local officers, spent about six hours Tuesday night surrounding a house in Filbert where Green had been spotted. He was not in the house when officers searched it around midnight.
Green also is suspected in a bank robbery in Canonsburg and in the robbery of a gas station convenience store in Bentleyville, both in Washington County.