State police hunt robbery suspect, robber runs away after store clerk pulls gun

PORTAGE, Pa. – State police in Ebensburg are searching for the man who allegedly burglarized a laundromat, robbed a dollar store and attempted to rob a cigar shop, but ran away after the clerk pulled a firearm, authorities said.

Troopers were called to Family Dollar, 36 Portage St. in Portage Township, at 7:36 p.m. Tuesday for a robbery in progress, Trooper Cliff Greenfield said in a new release.

A man allegedly entered the store, asked for all the money in the cash register and gestured to the two employees that he had a weapon in his pocket. The suspect allegedly grabbed $270 cash when the register was opened and fled before police arrived.

The suspect is described as a white, non-Hispanic man with gray facial stubble. He allegedly fled in a red, two-door Fiat hatchback.

Troopers were later called to Portage Vapor & Cigar, 113 Main St. in Portage Borough, when the same man allegedly tried to hold up the business.

An employee refused to hand over the money and reached for his personal firearm, forcing the suspect to flee empty handed. The suspect allegedly fled in the same red Fiat, which was seen on a Sheetz surveillance video traveling north on state Route 53.

Troopers determined the same man had allegedly burglarized Luck Laundry, 112 Munster Road, Portage Township, earlier. The suspect allegedly attempted to break into the Pennsylvania Skills machines with a hammer.

The crime was foiled when the Pennsylvania Skills company was notified of the machines being tampered with and were able to communicate through their camera system. This was enough to deter the suspect who fled leaving the hammer behind.

Anyone with information on the crimes is asked to call Trooper Stephanie Smith at 814-472-1653.