Tyrone Borough Police have revealed that a robbery and stabbing incident at the Kwik Fill on Wednesday night was actually something much different after a confession from the alleged victim in the case.
According to an updated release from Tyrone Borough Police, officers responding to the scene on old Route 220, just past the Tyrone-Snyder Township border, met with employee Raymond Farias, Jr. When they arrived, they discovered Farias had a cut/stab wound on the back of his left hand between his thumb and forefinger.
The employee said he had used the restroom which is located in a building away from the gas pumps and the station’s store and cash register. He originally claimed when he left the restroom, a white male approached him and asked for change for a $20 bill.
Farias told authorities he told the man he would make change for him. He claimed at that point, he reached into his shirt pocket and the man came at him. Farias said he dropped the money to the ground, the man then picked up the money and ran towards the Bull Pen Restaurant.
Farias claimed it was then he realized he had been stabbed in the hand and ran to a truck driver in the lot and asked him to call 911, which the truck driver did.
Farias gave a statement to police and was taken to Tyrone Hospital by ambulance and was treated and released. In a previous interview about the robbery, Tyrone Police Chief Joseph Beachem said Farias did receive stitches for the hand injury which was originally described as “a defensive wound.”
However, the latest information from authorities said the location of the wound did not seem consistent with Farias’ story or that of “a defensive wound.”
Officers searched the area including the roof of the restroom building. Authorities also met with Farias at his home after his hospital release and said he would meet the police back at the Kwik Fill to get his vehicle.
In the meantime, a “new looking” razor blade was found on the roof of the restroom building.
When Farias returned to the scene he met with officers and appeared nervous, according to Beachem. The chief said Farias would not look at him when he was asked if he had been completely honest and whether or not he would submit to a polygraph test.
Farias agreed to take the test and said he had been truthful.
Yesterday, the manager at Kwik Fill, Mark Chivari, visited with Chief Beachem and said the loss from the robbery amounted to $635.40. The money in Farias’ pocket was store money.
Police said it was discovered there were irregularities from money deposits from Farias during his shift on Wednesday night.
Later on Thursday morning, both Farias and his sister came to the police station on what Chief Beachem termed “an unrelated matter.”
Beachem asked him if he would be home later in the day, since the chief wanted to discuss more details about the incident and some inconsistencies.
About an hour after the Farias’ first visit to the police station, he returned about 11:30 a.m. and told the chief he wanted to be “completely honest” about the robbery incident.
He said the razor blade found at the scene would probably have his fingerprints on it. When he was asked why, he said he had “cut a blunt” with it.
According to Beachem, Farias said he smokes marijuana and he had used it to hollow out a cigar and replaced the tobacco with marijuana.
Beachem then urged Farias to be completely honest and he indicated to the man that authorities probably knew more than he thought they did.
According to the press release from Beachem’s office, it was then Farias began to cry and again repeated he wanted to be “completely honest.”
The chief asked Farias, point blank, “You weren’t really robbed, were you?”
The man then admitted he had made the robbery up and he had cut himself with the razor to make it look like he had been robbed. He said he threw the razor on the roof of the building because he didn’t think the police would look there.
Farias was then placed under arrest and given his Miranda rights. He also provided police with a written statement on the incident. Farias insisted he had just “lost” the money and tried to cover it up with the robbery story.
Beachem said that story is not consistent with information available from the store during Farias’ shift.
Farias was taken before Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller and charged with several counts.
The charges are: false alarms to agencies of public safety, unsworn falsification to authorities, disorderly conduct, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and false reports to law enforcement.
After his arraignment yesterday afternoon, Farias was sent to Blair County Prison in lieu of $7,500 bail, 10 percent. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday April 12 at 10 a.m.
