Fayette Co. man arrested in robbery case
WAYNESBURG – A Fayette County man accused of beating and robbing another man during a drug deal in February in Franklin Township was arrested Monday just hours before his two alleged accomplices pleaded guilty to their roles in the crime.
Jay Bergman, 25, of Adah, was arrested on a warrant for charges of robbery, simple assault, theft, harassment, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
Bergman and Austin G. Wiley, 20, of Waynesburg were accused of robbing Drew G. Summersgill during a drug deal Feb. 4. Police also charged Joshua R. Grimes, 19, of Waynesburg with conspiracy to commit robbery and theft. Wiley and Grimes pleaded guilty Tuesday morning in Greene County Court.
State police said Grimes made arrangements to buy marijuana from Summersgill and agreed to meet him in the early hours on Wade Street. Grimes drove the two men to Morris Street and waited in his truck while the men walked to Wade Street to meet Summersgill, police said.
Police said Bergman and Wiley, with their faces covered, found Summersgill in his car. The men allegedly broke out the driver’s side window and dragged Summersgill from the vehicle. A man held Summersgill by the throat while the other pointed a gun at him, police said.
The men stole Summersgill’s wallet, cellphone and car keys, according to court documents. Summersgill was able to free himself. He then grabbed the gun and ran, but was tackled by one of the men and beaten. He eventually became free and the two men ran from the scene.
Police did not say where Bergman was arrested Monday. He was arraigned late Monday before District Judge Glenn Bates and placed in Greene County jail on a $30,000 percentage bond. He faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge Lee Watson at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 20.
Both Grimes and Wiley were arrested earlier this year. Both pleaded guilty Tuesday before Greene County Judge Farley Toothman and sentenced to 1 to 3 years in jail. They were also ordered to jointly pay Summersgill $728 in restitution.
Bergman was among three criminal defendants arrested during a sweep Monday by Greene County law enforcement agencies. Participating in the warrant sweep were state police, Waynesburg and Cumberland Township police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Greene County Probation and the Greene County District Attorney’s Office.
Others arrested on warrants were Eddy Bryant, 21, of Carmichaels, who was charged by Cumberland police with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Bryant is accused by Cumberland Township police of selling marijuana March 27 from a house at Route 21 Estates. When arrested, he was in possession of a small bag of marijuana, police said.
Chad Roberts of Carmichaels was arrested on several summary warrants, police said.