Suspect waives robbery charges to court
A Brownsville man accused of robbing a convenience store in Uniontown last month has waived all charges against him to court. Officer David J. Rutter said Nicholas Diluzio III was charged last month before Senior Magisterial District Judge Michael Rubish with robbery, theft and receiving stolen property for the alleged robbery at the Sunoco A Plus convenience store on Morgantown Street. During a preliminary hearing held Tuesday in Uniontown, Rutter said Diluzio waived all charges to Fayette County Court.
Rutter said the robbery occurred at 1:10 a.m. June 29 when Diluzio entered the store and pulled out a camouflage mask and put it over his head.
Rutter said Diluzio then approached employee Kimberly Cleaver of Uniontown and demanded money.
Cleaver then pulled out a can of pepper spray and tried to spray Diluzio as she retreated to a back room where she called 911, Rutter said.
Cleaver gave police a description of the suspect as well as the pickup truck he was driving and Rutter said officers immediately put out a radio broadcast alerting other law enforcement agencies regarding the suspect’s vehicle.
About 12 hours later, Rutter said Brownsville police contacted him after they discovered Diluzio’s truck parked on Broadway Avenue.
Rutter responded to the location and found the truck that matched one shown in surveillance video fleeing the store. He said a camouflage mask was discovered in the truck.
Rutter said he found Diluzio at a home on Broadway Avenue and he was taken into custody.
According to Rutter, Diluzio admitted to committing the robbery after being tossed out of a bar in Uniontown around 1 a.m.
Rutter said Diluzio admitted to being “very intoxicated” but said that he was hungry and wanted cigarettes.
Diluzio also told Rutter that he never intended to hurt Cleaver, Rutter said.