Jan 9, 2015 2 min read

CLARKSVILLE – A Carmichaels man has been charged with walking into Muhly’s Little Store in Clarksville at 3 p.m. Thursday and demanding money from the clerk.

Joseph Mathew Black, 25, of 103C E. George St., was charged by state police with robbery, simple assault and criminal attempt. He is being held in Greene County jail on $30,000 straight cash bond.

Police said a man wearing a red and black flannel jacket, brown ski mask and blue gloves entered the store and demanded money from the clerk. When she said, “Excuse me?” the man began pounding on the counter, according to a criminal complaint filed before Greene County Magisterial District Judge Glenn Bates.

Frank Santucci, another store employee came from the back of the store and the robber fled. Santucci told police the man went outside and he saw him running across the bridge toward the Williamstown area of Clarksville in Washington County.

Police followed tracks in the snow that led to a residence at 27 Clark St. When police entered the residence a brown ski mask was seen on the couch. Resident Henry Stiles told police the mask belonged to Joseph Black, who was at the residence earlier with his girlfriend.

Police said Stiles told them Black said he needed to go for a walk and a short time later, Black returned, out of breath, and removed some clothing, according to the complaint.

Police found Black at his girfriend’s residence at 47 Taylor Avenue, and also found a red and black jacket and a blue glove that matched the color of the gloves from a surveillance video and from the clerk’s description.

Black was arraigned before Bates at 8 p.m. Thursday. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Jan. 14.