NANTY GLO — Three Cambria County men were arrested in connection with an armed robbery early Friday at the Fueland convenience store and gas station on Shoemaker Street, state police said.
They were identified as Matthew Allen Keller, 24, of the 200 block of Grove Avenue, Johnstown; Sanford Koufax McCord, 19, of the 400 block of Jackson Street, Summerhill; and Brian Gaydos, 20, of Johnstown.
Keller and McCord were apprehended first with the help of Johnstown police, who became suspicious about a vehicle in an alley in the city.
Both were arraigned by District Judge Mary Ann Zanghi of Vinco, who went to the state police barracks in Ebensburg for the arraignment. They are charged with robbery, aggravated assault, theft and related offenses.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled Monday for Keller and McCord but is likely to be continued to a later day, Zanghi’s office said.
Gaydos turned himself in at the state police barracks in Ebensburg around 7 p.m.
He was arraigned before District Judge Leonard Grecek of Roxbury.
All three suspects were lodged in the Cambria County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bond each.
During the heist, a female clerk was hit by a gun and tied up by two robbers wearing ski masks, said Trooper Robert Kunsman, a state police spokesman.
The clerk, who received minor injuries, was able to call Cambria 911 shortly before 3 a.m.
At least one robber carried a handgun, Kunsman said. They drove away with an undetermined amount of cash.
Keller and McCord initially denied any involvement in the robbery, police said. But they were unable to explain about “money sleeves” – apparently meaning the wrappers used around bills – that were in plain view on the front floor of the driver’s side of the vehicle, Trooper Matthew Evans said in a sworn affidavit. The money sleeves match the description of those taken in the robbery, he said.
McCord may have been the driver of the get-away car, police said.
He told police that he didn’t do anything but “stayed in the car, and they did what they did,” according to the affidavit.
Keller became emotional during the questioning and told police “that he did what he did for his kids. He related that he hit the victim in the head with the gun because she was stalling, and it was making him nervous,” Evans said in the affidavit.
A photo of Gaydos was not available at press time.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Keller Submitted Photo
-
McCord Submitted Photo
Discussion
Police charge 3 area men in Nanty Glo holdup
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
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. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
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
