Warrant issued for man in Mount Morris robbery
Two arrest warrants were issued for a masked man who allegedly robbed a Mount Morris grocery store while wielding a knife, and fled police the next day.
Jerry Paul Pugh Sr., 48, of Presock Road reportedly threatened a Belco Food store cashier and a patron who was smacking him in the head with a rolled up newspaper during the robbery June 8, according to court documents.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case, Pugh was identified after another man encountered Pugh in Dilliner, where he was showing off a large wad of cash.
“I just robbed Belco and I got money,” Pugh was quoted as saying in court paperwork. “Let’s go get (expletive) up.”
Pugh reportedly said a man was smacking him with a newspaper as he stole the money.
He allegedly entered the Perry Township store at about 11 a.m. June 8, jumped on the counter and threatened the store clerk. He allegedly threatened to stab the man hitting him with a newspaper and fled the store. He was wearing a camouflage handkerchief around his mouth and a fire-retardant work shirt with reflective tape around the sleeves, according to court paperwork.
The man who identified him told police Pugh had clothes matching the same description in his vehicle, along with several knives.
At about 2:45 p.m. June 9, police were called to BFS truck stop for a report that Pugh was in the store. A Greene County Regional Police officer stopped his vehicle on Gas Company Road.
After taking his passenger into custody, Pugh allegedly sped down the road. Police were unable to locate him.
Pugh is described as a white man approximately 6-feet tall and 180 to 200 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes. Police said he drives a white 4-door 2004 Honda Accord.
He is facing charges in two cases filed before Magisterial District Judge David Curt Balint. Pugh is charged with robbery, theft, terroristic threats and simple assault in the first case and fleeing or attempting to elude officer and possession of drug paraphernalia in the second case.