Uniontown man charged in robbery attempt
CONNELLSVILLE — A Uniontown man is in jail after he allegedly tried to rob a local convenience store at gunpoint.
Connellsville police said Steven V. Campbell, 37, was apprehended late Thursday after he allegedly pointed a weapon at a Reddy Sunoco A-Plus clerk and demanded money from a female clerk.
Police Chief Jim Capitos said Campbell entered the 225 Memorial Boulevard store about 9:10 p.m. and approached the clerk, who was working alone.
“She told him “no” that she wasn’t going to give him the money and to leave,” said Capitos. “It was a gutsy move on her part, but I wouldn’t recommended it when a gun is being pointed at you.”
As the man left the store, the clerk called 911 to alert police of the attempted robbery.
“She gave a very good description of him and the officers began to canvas the area,” said Capitos, adding that it was reported the man was on foot.
Police Sgt. Dan Wissler located the man on North Pittsburgh Street, and while frisking him, felt a metal item in his coat pocket, said Capitos.
“As (Wissler) took steps to take him into custody, the man slipped out of the coat and ran,” he said.
Within a few minutes, other officers apprehended him near East North Alley and East Peach Street.
After taking him into custody, officers took him to Highlands Hospital in Connellsville, where he was treated for cuts and bruises he sustained from falling down during the foot chase, said Capitos.
Police said he confessed to attempting to rob the store and that he was addicted to cocaine.
“He said he was just trying to get money,” said Capitos.
It was later learned that the weapon used was an air pistol.
“It looks very similar to my service weapon,” said Capitos. “And, an air pistol could potentially kill someone.”
Capitos commended the on-duty officers for the swift apprehension.
“They began canvassing the area immediately and tracked him down and took him into custody,” he said. “They did a good job and no one was hurt.”
Campbell was charged before Magisterial District Judge Joseph M. George Jr. with single felony counts of robbery, aggravated assault with a weapon and terroristic threats and single misdemeanor counts of simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
He was arraigned at the Fayette County booking center and taken to Fayette County Prison after failing to post $75,000 bond.
Campbell faces a preliminary hearing Thursday on the charges before Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty Jr.
The store has been hit two previous times since Feb. 4.
Francis Straughters Jr., 28, and Edith Porterfield, 34, both of 304 E. Green St., Connellsville, are charged in connection with the first robbery.
Police said Straughters used a wrench that he had in his possession to beat a man in the store.
Police later took Straughters and Porterfield into custody.
On Feb. 29, a man entered the station at 1:26 a.m. and demanded money from the cashier before fleeing on foot. Police did not release a description of the lone robber.
Capitos said that officers continue to investigate the robbery.