Robbery suspect behind bars
A man who used a compression-style elastic bandage to disguise his face during an alleged armed robbery at a South Union Township convenience store is in the Fayette County Prison. Jonathon Anthony Thomas, 25, allegedly came into the Dairy Mart on Dixon Boulevard around 11:45 p.m. Monday with an Ace-style bandage on his face, wearing dark sunglasses and latex gloves.
Trooper Kiprian Yarosh alleged he brandished a knife, and grabbed Todd Allen Robinson, 33, of Uniontown, from behind and put the blade at his throat. There were also three other people in the store at the time, police said.
Thomas, of 184 S. Mount Vernon Ave. in Uniontown, allegedly demanded money and Newport cigarettes and then ran from the store with an undisclosed amount of money, two cartons of cigarettes and three loose packs.
Uniontown police Officer Michael Bittner caught Thomas a short time after the robbery walking in the city. Yarosh indicated that Thomas had cash on him in small bills, and the money taken from the store was in $10s, $5s and $1s.
Police also said that the Newport cigarettes that Thomas had with him had matching tax stamp numbers to the packs in the store.
Police obtained a search warrant for a home at 9 Macarthur Terrace, where they found “numerous items” that implicated Thomas in the robbery, Yarosh said.
Thomas was charged with robbery, recklessly endangering another person, possessing the instrument of a crime, theft by unlawful taking and simple assault.
Magisterial District Judge Michael M. Metros arraigned Thomas, and committed him to the Fayette County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bond.