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Suspect in 2 parking lot attendant robberies arrested

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police arrested a man suspected of trying to rob two parking lot attendants Thursday in broad daylight.

Authorities said 19-year-old Benjamin Dobrzynski is facing several charges, including robbery and carrying a firearm.

The first incident was reported just before 5 p.m.

An attendant at the ALCO parking lot on Eighth Street and Fort Duquesne Boulevard Downtown told police a man with a small handgun threatened to take cash out of the parking booth , but he wasn't successful and fled toward Liberty Avenue, public safety spokeswoman Sonya Toler said.

A little over an hour later, an attendant at the lot at East General Robinson and Sandusky streets on the North Shore told police a man who may have been armed tried to rob him.

“He came up, showed me his gun and said, ‘Give me the money.’ Then he hid it right away and said, ‘Give me the money.’ I just kept backing up,” parking lot attendant Alex Negey said.

The attendant's description of the suspect was similar to that of the suspect in the earlier robbery, police said.

“The police were really appreciative that I notified them right away,” Negey said.

About 15 minutes later, police spotted a man on the riverwalk along the Allegheny River matching the description. Police arrested Dobrzynski and he was identified as the robber..

Negey, 66, said Friday that in the 25 years he’s worked as an attendant, he’s never been the victim of a crime.

“I’m in shock myself. I feel pretty lucky,” Negey said.

Authorities said Harrison and Tarentum police have arrest warrants for Dobrzynski, and he's wanted for questioning in two burglaries in Harrison.