Sep 19, 2018 2 min read

A Canonsburg man who is accused of robbing an East Pike Street pizza shop at gunpoint last month waived his case to court Tuesday after charges of aggravated assault were withdrawn.

Matthew Ditullio, 32, of 229 Barr St., was instead charged by Canonsburg police with two counts of simple assault. He waived those charges as well as charges of robbery, theft and reckless endangerment at his preliminary hearing before District Judge David Mark.

Ditullio is accused of entering Little Caesars Pizza, 152 E. Pike, just before closing Aug. 26 armed with what police later learned was a BB gun.

One of the two women working inside the shop told Officer Dennis Cole that Ditullio was the robber. She told Cole that she recognized his voice and eyes even though his face was covered with a black mask because the two grew up in the same neighborhood.

Ditullio reportedly pointed the weapon at one of the women and ordered her to open the safe. Ditullio then reportedly rummaged through the drawer and removed $1 and $5 bills and two rolls of pennies. He then fled out of the back door.

Police got a description of what the robber was wearing and searched the area. A North Strabane Township police officer spotted the weapon, a jumpsuit matching the description given as being worn by the robber and a black mask lying next to some nearby railroad tracks. Ditullio was found nearby sitting on the ground.

Ditullio remains in Washington County jail on $25,000 bond. He will be formally arraigned on the charges Oct. 30.