Authorities have captured a man suspected of a string of robberies that have plagued Tyrone and other parts of the area.
Police arrested Robert E. Miller of RD 2, Tyrone after a chase on Sunday that started in Cresson, Cambria County. Authorities there pursued a vehicle operated by Miller through Patton then south on Route 36 where Altoona Police picked up the pursuit. The chase resulted from a robbery at a Kwik Fill in the Duncansville area shortly before noon.
A release from Altoona Police said their officers continued to pursue Miller’s vehicle south on 18th Street at a high rate of speed. The vehicle almost lost control several times as it traveled south on 18th Street to Union Avenue and 20th Street. The road was blocked by traffic there. Police said the suspect tried to turn right onto 20th Street. Miller ended up crashing his vehicle.
The suspect then fled his vehicle and a foot chase ensued. Miller was eventually captured after he jumped a fence along Chestnut Avenue. Two Altoona officers were taken by ambulance for treatment while another officer transported himself there.
Allegheny Township Police Chief Richard Books said Miller was charged with robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, retail theft and driving under suspension in connection with the Kwik Fill robbery.
Altoona Police told The Daily Herald, they were not charging Miller in connection with the pursuit incident that happened in their jurisdiction.
Tyrone Police Chief Joseph Beachem said charges against Miller were expected to be filed later today in connection with a string of robberies that happened in the Tyrone area recently. There were two robberies at the Uni-Mart during the last few days, one on Friday and another on Sunday. The Tyrone Kwik Fill was robbed on Saturday night. Beachem said he expected charges to be filed in those cases today. He said Miller is also “being looked at” in connection with a late October robbery of the Choice store on Logan Avenue.
Altoona Police also investigated a Sunday morning robbery at a Uni-Mart there. Authorities haven’t said if Miller is a suspect in that robbery.
He was arraigned before Magisterial Judge Joseph Moran and was lodged in Blair County Prison in lieu of $15,000 straight bail.
