Apr 12, 2016 2 min read

An anonymous tip to a Washington County police department along with fingerprints led McDonald police to an Ohio man suspected of robbing the PNC Bank on Main Street in Burgettstown last week.

McDonald police obtained a warrant Monday from District Judge Gary Havelka for Justin Tyler Butler, 21, of Stuebenville, on three counts of robbery and reckless endangerment and one count each of theft, simple assault and terroristic threats. Butler, who has several aliases, was taken into custody Monday in Jefferson County, Ohio, on a bench warrant for failure to appear. He is lodged in Jefferson County jail and will be extradited to Washington County.

Butler reportedly went inside the vestibule of the bank at 1803 Main St., immediately turned around and walked away from the bank. He came back into the bank about two minutes later, approached a teller and handed her a note stating “Give me all your money or I’ll … blow this place up.”

The teller gave him cash. Another bank employee told police the robber, later identified as Butler, seemed nervous and agitated, mumbling “Hurry up, hurry up. I’ll blow this place up.” Another teller gave him money before activating an alarm. Seconds later, Butler fled on foot.

McDonald police learned the robber was not wearing gloves and touched the counter. He also did not cover his face. A trooper with the state police forensics services unit lifted fingerprints that were sent to the state laboratory in Greensburg.

Police later determined the suspect parked his car in the lot of a nearby business. After leaving the bank, he was seen driving west on North Main. A woman with blond hair was inside the car.

The next day, McDonald police learned from the FBI that Washington police received a tip on a possible suspect, identifying him as Justin Crothers, also known as Justin Butler. Police looked at photographs of him and saw he matched the description.

Police went to his home in Steubenville. The homeowner told police she had not seen Butler for several days.

Police learned she helped him buy the car that was used in the robbery about 10 days earlier.

It is not clear when he will be returned to Washington County for arraignment.