Jun 20, 2013 2 min read

A Vestaburg man was arrested Wednesday on charges he robbed a Fredericktown beer distributor at knifepoint two months ago.

John Alvin Hyatt, 30, of 412 Second St., was arrested by East Bethlehem Township police in the April 11 robbery of Fredericktown Beer, 518 Front St.

The beer distributor was robbed just before closing as the clerk was cashing out the register. The robber walked up to the clerk, who closed the cash drawer and refused to reopen it. Money was reportedly stolen from the lottery machine before the robber fled.

Police were given a description of the robber. Township police Chief Mark Pompe said Hyatt was a suspect early in the investigation.

“Once we watch the surveillance tape and got some photos, we started asking around if anyone recognized him,” Pompe said. “Everything started falling into place.”

Police said they also learned Hyatt was bragging about the robbery to some of his friends.

“We recovered the pants he was wearing at the time and what we believe was the knife used,” the chief said. “But he said he threw away the shirt.”

Hyatt eventually confessed to the robbery, Pompe said. After the robbery, Pompe and his police dog, Thor, were able to track the robber behind the beer distributor and through a park to Strawberry Street.

“After interviewing him, that was the track he took after leaving the store,” Pompe said. “The dog hit on his track.”

Pompe said Hyatt told him he needed money to pay bills and to pay back money he had borrowed from people.

Hyatt was arraigned before District Judge Gary Havelka on charges of robbery, possessing instruments of a crime, theft, receiving stolen property and terroristic threats. He was placed in the Washington County jail on $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Thursday before District Judge Joshua Kanalis.