Man jailed in third Bentleyville robbery
BENTLEYVILLE – A Somerset Township man wore the same clothing and carried a black plastic toy gun when he set out to rob three Bentleyville businesses this week, beginning with a service station Sunday, state police allege.
Robert William Petrick Jr., 22, of 159 Almond Road, was arrested by state Tuesday in connection with the robberies of a BP station and Jets Food Center, as well as a robbery attempt at The Medicine Shoppe in Bentleyville, crimes for which court records offered new information Wednesday.
Police accused Petrick of first robbing two female clerks at a BP at 204 Wilson Road of $517 while pointing a black plastic firearm at them about 8 p.m. Sunday, court records state.
He was wearing a black bandanna over his face and a black hooded sweatshirt, in addition to the same clothing he allegedly wore in the store earlier that day while scanning lottery tickets, police said.
Petrick is accused of screaming at the clerks to “stop looking at him and hurry up,” before he left with the money.
Police said they were able to identify him through video surveillance at the business and online state records.
Police said he wore the same clothing two days later when he allegedly walked to a rear glass door at the pharmacy at 808 Main St. and pointed the gun at employee Susan Crumrine as she stood nearby disarming the burglar alarm about 8:45 a.m. Police said she recognized him and said, “Get out of here, Bobby,” before she ran to the front of the store and her husband, John, locked them inside.
Police believe Petrick next ran about two blocks to Jets at 506 Main St., entered the story and went to the back of the building, where he found store owner Robert Orsatti.
Orsatti told police the suspect pointed the gun at him and said, “I want your money,” the court record states.
Orsatti said he went to the cash register and gave Petrick $227 and a pack of Marlboro cigarettes.
An eyewitness reported seeing the robber running from the area. Troopers followed his footprints in snow, locating the sweatshirt and black bandanna along the trail into woods before apprehending the suspect in possession of the money and cigarettes.
Police claim Petrick later confessed to the robberies, saying he needed money for drugs.
Petrick is charged with five counts of robbery, three counts of simple assault, two counts of theft and one count of disorderly conduct.
He is in Washington County jail on $750,000 bond set by District Judge Joshua Kanalis.