CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. — Connellsville police arrested two people in connection with several armed robberies.
Police were called Thursday to an attempted robbery at a Sunoco on McCormick Avenue. It was for the second time for the Sunoco in two weeks.
While police were en route to the call, one officer traveling on Crawford Avenue saw a man, who was later identified as William Strickler, running out of Vona’s Dairy Bar. Workers there told Channel 11 a man had walked in, slammed his hands on the counter and demanded money. Strickler was out the door in 50 seconds, but not before triggering an alarm system.
Officials said they found Strickler’s clothes and a revolver-style BB gun that had been used in the robberies.
"They look like real guns. They feel like real guns. Some of them have the action of (a) real firearm so (I’d) say people would be scared of that, yeah," Cpl. Bryan Kendi said.
Police said Kimberly Ross drove the getaway vehicle. She pleaded guilty last fall to threatening officials at Mount Pleasant’s youth football league.
Officials said Strickler is accused of robbing Vona’s, the Honeybar on Snyder Street and the Sunoco on McCormick Avenue.
"It’s a big sigh of relief not only for us, but also the citizens as well," Kendi said.
Ross is facing conspiracy charges and will be arraigned when she is released from the hospital. It is unknown why she is in the hospital.