Mar 19, 2018 2 min read

Washington police said they have identified the man suspected of trying to rob a Jefferson Avenue convenience store earlier this month.

Brian Harding, 48, of Smithton, Westmoreland County, was taken into custody by police in Fairmont, W.Va., for allegedly driving a stolen car, said Washington police Detective Dan Rush, who is investigating the attempted robbery March 9 at the Sunoco station at 501 Jefferson Ave.

Rush said state police plan to charge him with stealing the car from Westmoreland County.

“He drove to Washington and tried to rob the store for gas,” Rush said.

Harding reportedly was at the Sunoco’s gas pumps about 5 a.m. March 9 and was unable to get a pump to work, so he went inside the convenience store to have the pump activated.

The clerk asked him how much he wanted to put on the pump, and Harding reportedly said he wanted to fill his tank.

The clerk tried to explain that in order to activate the pump without using a credit card, Harding had to pay for a set amount in advance, police said.

Harding allegedly pulled a pistol from his pants, placed it on the counter and told the clerk, “Give me the gas, please.” But police said he noticed another customer in the store, grabbed the pistol and left. He then allegedly got into an older white car and headed north on Jefferson.

Rush said photographs of Harding taken by police in West Virginia when he was picked up show him wearing the same clothing he had on during the attempted robbery at the Sunoco.

Police received a tip on their Facebook page about Harding and were able to positively identify him as the suspect, Rush said.

Harding is lodged in the North Central jail in Greenwood, Doddridge County, W.Va., on a charge of receiving stolen property. Rush plans to charge him with robbery and possibly firearms violations. He said Harding also is wanted on a warrant from the Washington County sheriff’s office.