Suspect arraigned on robbery charges
REDSTONE TWP. – Despite an alleged three-week crime spree believed to include four bank robberies, two convenience store hold-ups, an attempted grocery store robbery and a kidnapping, Timothy Michael Green Wednesday said he’s not the erratic dangerous criminal the public has been lead to believe. “I’m not the type of person that – I really can’t say – I’ve been told not to say anything,” Green said.
Green, 37, of 126 Arnold Ave., Strabane, Washington County, was arraigned Wednesday before District Justice Mike Defino on charges related to an attempted robbery at the Grindstone Foodland June 17 and the robbery of the Jackson Farms Dairy Mart on June 18.
According to Redstone police, Green tried to hold up the Grindstone Foodland shortly before 8:30 p.m. June 17, first asking to have a check cashed, then demanding that the safe be opened. When the clerk told him that she didn’t have the combination, he turned to another cashier and demanded that she open the cash register. The cashier told police she became frightened and froze, and the suspect left the store.
Outside the store Green allegedly got into a car that a shopper had just loaded groceries into. The woman had left her purse on the seat while returning her shopping cart and he was searching in the purse for the car keys when other patrons were alerted to the situation by her shouts. One man scuffled with Green, but backed off when Green said he had a gun in a fanny pack he had around his waist.
Green then got into a red pickup truck, striking a 1995 Eagle Summit owned by the parents of a store employee on his way out of the lot. There was more than $2,000 in damage caused to the vehicle that is owned by Robert and Lucille Venne.
Green faces two charges of criminal attempt robbery, one charge of criminal attempt theft and criminal mischief for the Foodland incident.
Green is also charged with robbing the Jackson Farms Dairy Mart the following evening, June 18, around 6 p.m. He faces charges of robbery, theft and simple assault in that case, in which he allegedly told the clerk that he had a gun and demanded the money from the cash register and lottery machine.
Green left the store with approximately $259.
Shortly after the robbery, Redstone Township police were told that Green was in the Filbert area. State police were called for assistance and the house was surrounded by more than 60 state and local police officers. A search of the house was fruitless, though the red truck, which Green had rented several days earlier, was found nearby.
Green said he didn’t find out about the police surrounding the Filbert house where he had allegedly stayed for several days until this past Monday, four days after his arrest.
Green was arrested early last Friday morning by Pennsylvania State police and the Preston County, W.Va., sheriff’s office after a vehicle Green allegedly stole from a McClellandtown man was spotted near Hopwood and followed by police into West Virginia. The vehicle was owned by John Sismondo, who had been held hostage by Green from 8 p.m. Thursday until around 4 a.m. Friday. Green faces numerous charges in connection with that incident, including kidnapping.
Defino set Green’s bond at $75,000 cash for each of the two cases filed against him in Redstone Township. He is already being held on $200,000 bond for the kidnapping incident, $200,000 bond for two bank robberies and $100,000 bond for the robbery of a gas station in Bentleyville.
Green said he is the father of a 15-month-old boy, whom he hasn’t seen for several weeks.
“I stayed home with my child from December until April,” Green said. “It’s amazing when you’re with them every day, you notice all the little things. Now I haven’t seen him in two weeks. The changes are amazing.”
Green said his girlfriend has stayed home with the child for the first three months, but had returned to work. Green said he started working for Ramp Construction in April, but hasn’t worked there for a little over a month.
“I was on my way to work on the 20th of May and my car broke down. That was the last day I believe they would say I worked for them,” Green said.
Green is currently lodged in the Washington County Jail.