Connellsville robbery suspects arraigned in fourth case
Two people accused in a string of robberies in Connellsville and Dunbar Township were arraigned on new charges Monday.
William Milton Strickler, 38, is accused of robbing convenience stores, and Kimberly Dawn Ross, 34, is accused of serving as the getaway driver. The duo lives in Connellsville.
Their newest charges are for a robbery of the Honey Bear Sunoco at about 10:30 p.m. Jan. 23. An employee told police a man who was wearing gloves and had his face covered with a bandana pointed a black handgun at her and demanded money. He allegedly stole money and fled, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in his case.
Police watched a surveillance video that allegedly showed a vehicle drop the man off and then drive onto Perry Street. The video allegedly showed Strickler committing the robbery and then run toward Perry Street.
Strickler was identified Jan. 26, when he allegedly attempted to rob the Sunoco on McCormick Avenue but was unable to get inside. Police spotted him running from Vona蘑菇视频 Dairy Bar after he allegedly robbed that store instead and climbed in the passenger side of a Ford Focus. The car fled police until Ross allegedly stopped the car, and the duo fled.
Police then recovered the vehicle, two cellphones, clothing that was allegedly used in the robberies and a revolver-style BB gun. A search warrant on the cellphones revealed discussion between the two asking about drugs and saying they were 鈥渟ick鈥� and needed money, according to court documents.
They were charged last week with successfully robbing the same Sunoco on Jan. 15.
The two are also charged in the robbery of a BFS gas station in Dunbar Township Jan. 24.
After Strickler蘑菇视频 arrest Jan. 29, he allegedly told police he would take his car to Ross鈥� house, change his clothes and commit robberies. He said Ross would drive back to her house, and he would change back into his original outfit, according to the affidavit.
Police found clothing that matched descriptions of the suspect蘑菇视频 clothing at Ross鈥� house.
Ross and Strickler are facing charges including robbery, aggravated assault and theft. Strickler is also charged with resisting arrest, and Ross is also charged with fleeing or attempting to elude officers.
Strickler and Ross are both lodged in Fayette County Prison in lieu of bond. Between the four cases, their bails are set at $175,000 each.
Ross is also facing unrelated charges in Westmoreland County. She is awaiting sentencing for writing threatening letters to Mount Pleasant Area Football League officials in March.
She told police that Joseph Vincent Loughner, 52, of Greensburg told her to right them. He was sentenced to four months of house arrest and five years probation earlier this month.