A 33-year-old Tyrone man, Benjamin Burton Brower, was arrested Sunday for a robbery at the Sheetz store in Bellwood that happened shortly after midnight yesterday.
Brower has also been accused of allegedly attempting to rob the Uni-Mart in Warriors Mark at 7:45 a.m. yesterday. He was apprehended later on Sunday when police found him in Tyrone hiding in a relative’s car.
Hollidaysburg state police said Brower allegedly entered the Sheetz on State Route 865 in Antis Township and demanded money from a 23-year-old female clerk. Brower had his hand in his shirt and told the clerk he had a gun.
An undetermined amount of money was taken and he left the store on foot going toward old Route 220. A warrant was issued for Brower and police said he was identified through video recordings from the store. Police also had reason to believe Brower was driving a white Buick.
According to Huntingdon County-based state police, later on Sunday morning, Brower is alleged to have entered the Uni-Mart in Warriors Mark and asked a female clerk for a pack of cigarettes. When the woman attempted to scan the item, Brower allegedly told the clerk to give him the money.
The clerk told Brower “no”. Brower then allegedly said to the clerk, “I’m not kidding with you. I have a gun and I will shoot you if you don’t.”
Brower then allegedly held what appeared to be a pocket knife down to his right side and again told the clerk he would shoot. He then allegedly put the pocket knife into his pocket and again demanded money.
A customer then pulled into the parking lot and Brower fled the scene on foot on State Route 350.
After Brower was discovered in a vehicle in Tyrone, he was taken into custody without incident. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Craig Ormsby.
Brower was placed in Blair County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail. He was charged with one count each for robbery, simple assault, terroristic threats and theft by unlawful taking. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1 before Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller.
Huntingdon County-based state police said their investigation was continuing into the Uni-Mart attempted robbery. There was no information provided on any charges Brower may face in that incident or when he might be arraigned if he is charged.
