JOHNSTOWN — A man was charged with two robberies just minutes apart in downtown Johnstown on Monday morning.
City police arrested 40-year-old Robert Anthony Brown of the city’s Solomon Homes and charged him with robberies at Novelty Nook, 222 Bedford St., and Subway Sandwiches & Salads, 406 Main St.
Brown, wearing a dark-blue winter jacket and camouflage pants, approached a Subway clerk at about 9:40 a.m. and asked her to make a turkey sub, Johnstown police said.
A criminal complaint filed by police said Brown then placed a yellow bag on the counter and asked the clerk to fill it with money from the register. The clerk saw the barrel of a gun inside the bag and handed over $173.85.
Police said Brown then tried to rob the Novelty Nook around 9:45 a.m.
George Mitchell, Novelty Nook owner, said the robber came into his store wearing a nylon mask and holding a yellow bag in his hand.
“I could see the form of a gun,” he said.
Mitchell said the robber repeatedly demanded cash. But there was no money in the store other than a dollar from a soda machine.
“I said, ‘I don’t have no money,’ and I thought he was joking at first,” Mitchell said. “I saw the gun in the bag, but I couldn’t make out what kind of gun.”
Mitchell said the robber then took off the nylon mask and said he was only joking, and that the gun was only a BB gun.
The robber then took time to look around the store and said he would return after getting money from a bank, Mitchell said.
“I was a little bit upset,” he said. “I asked my landlord if I could bring a shotgun into the store and he said to call the police.”
Brown was approached by an officer in an unmarked car and fled, police said.
Johnstown police Capt. Andrew Frear said Brown was found hiding under a white van in the Northwest Bank parking lot on Franklin Street.
Brown was charged with two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery.
Colleen Freyvogel can be reached at 533-5055 or cfreyvogel@tribdem.com.
Local News
Suspect charged in city robberies
Two downtown businesses hit
- Local News
-
-
Johnstown man charged with giving fatal Methadone dose to girlfriend
A Johnstown area man has been charged in the death of his girlfriend, who died in August from an illicit drug that he allegedly gave to her while she was a patient at Indiana Regional Medical Center.
-
Somerset County teacher accused of using insulting names
School board members and administrators say they’re still investigating whether a teacher called her eighth- and ninth-grade algebra students names like “retard,” “idiot” and “moron.”
-
Seward tax preparer set to plead in federal court
A Westmoreland County tax preparer is scheduled to plead guilty or no contest to charges that he filed fraudulent income tax returns for his customers and asked some of them to lie to Internal Revenue Service investigators.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Police probing financial irregularities at Indiana County parish
State police say they’re investigating financial “irregularities” at a Catholic parish with five worship sites in Indiana County, after the local diocese reported the problems to police.
-
Video: Young bear, wolf play together
It’s like something out of a children's book: A bear cub meets a wolf cub and they become the best of friends. Even though they are different species and ferocious predators, the unlikely couple stays pals for life.
-
Two Cambria district judge offices to be cut
Two of Cambria County’s 10 magisterial districts could be eliminated as President Judge Timothy Creany looks at realigning boundaries to cut costs while taking into consideration caseloads of the district judges and population changes.
-
Westmont couple inseparable, even in death
People who knew James and Marjorie Landis of Westmont said the two were nearly always together.
-
Company buys valuables from people ready to unload
Jan Hagerich’s buffalo nickel was “healthy” – which was unhealthy for her finances.
-
Special Olympics return to region
More than 300 athletes eager to show off their skills, along with 135 coaches, will be coming to the region to take part in the 2012 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Johnstown man charged with giving fatal Methadone dose to girlfriend
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
