CARROLLTOWN — Three brothers now have been charged in Saturday’s armed robbery of a pharmacy for drugs, arrests due in part to the cooperation of their sister.
Charges were filed Monday against Dennis Dean Popish, 43, of the 800 block of Cameron Avenue, Beaverdale, and Shawn Popish, 34, of Miller Farm Road, Ebensburg, before Ebensburg District Judge Frederick Creany.
Charges were filed Sunday against David Allen Popish, 40, of the Cameron Avenue address.
“I hope they can all get help now,” their sister, Tracy Lynn Shankwieler, told The Tribune-Democrat on Monday.
Police say Dennis Popish entered Sharbaugh’s Drug Store along Route 219 at 12:50 p.m. Saturday. He displayed a device to store owner Neil Sharbaugh, telling Sharbaugh it was a bomb and that he would detonate it unless Sharbaugh turned over OxyContin.
Police said Dennis Popish left with an unknown amount of drugs, walked behind the store and got into a green Dodge Duster driven by Shawn Popish.
A witness provided the car’s license number.
Police say the two drove to the area of Link Road, where David Popish was waiting in a silver Isuzu Rodeo, and abandoned the Dodge.
All three are in the Cambria County Prison in lieu of bond. Preliminary hearings are set for April 10 in front of Creany.
Dennis Popish is charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit theft, making a facsimile of a weapon of mass destruction, theft and receiving stolen property. Shawn and David Popish are charged with receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy to commit robbery and criminal conspiracy to commit theft. Shawn Popish also faces a charge of facsimile of a weapon of mass destruction.
Police said David Popish’s involvement was limited to planning and driving the Isuzu.
Shankwieler said Monday that her brothers – including her twin, Shawn, who was living with her – were at her house along Miller Farm Road on Saturday morning when an argument broke out between Dennis and her fiance.
“They left here and ended up there,” she said of the East Carroll Township pharmacy.
Using the license number, state police tracked the brothers to Shankwieler’s address.
Shawn Popish returned to Shankwieler’s home Sunday and was hiding in a stairway when state police arrived.
Shankwieler said she used a hand signal to let police know he was in the basement.
While police still were at the home, Dennis Popish phoned and Shankwieler told police he was at David Popish’s home.
Shankwieler portrayed Dennis Popish as the instigator and David Popish, who is battling cancer, as being pulled into the crime.
Dennis Popish made the fake bomb Friday at David Popish’s home, saying at the time he was going to play a joke on someone, Shankwieler said.
Police said most of the stolen drugs were recovered.
Local News
Brothers charged in robbery
- Local News
-
-
Proposed bill would expand use of traffic-light cameras
Some call it the hand of “big brother,” others are convinced cameras at signal lights would be effective in curbing red-light runners and ultimately saving lives.
-
Minister's trial date set
An issue has been resolved over the report from an examination of a girl allegedly taken by her mother to a Bedford motel to have sex with a traveling minister, clearing the way for a trial.
-
AP: Almost half of new veterans seek disability
America’s newest veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate, claiming to be the most medically and mentally troubled generation of former troops the nation has ever seen.
-
Geistown beginning crime watch program
Residents will patrol Geistown streets in the coming weeks as part of a community watch program.
-
Persons of the Week: Nanty Glo vets will remember fallen comrades
Michael Kurtz, Tom Kasecky and Steve Kasecky will be among members of the Loy A. Douglass Post 3489 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Nanty Glo who will be honoring fallen veterans today, Memorial Day.
-
AG candidates face potential conflicts of interest
Both candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general have family ties that could pose a conflict of interest for the one who is elected as the state’s next chief legal officer.
-
Lawmakers: Capitol rallies unpersuasive
Nancy Richey stepped to the podium with a microphone at the Capitol rotunda with the hope that the right people would hear her message.
-
Richland closer to new chief
The search for Richland’s next police chief is winding down.
-
In brief: Thunderstorm downs trees, knocks out power
A late Sunday afternoon thunderstorm brought high winds, hard rain and hail to the Cambria-Somerset region.
- District Deaths May 28, 2012
- More Local News Headlines
-
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
