2 arrested in grocery store robbery
WAYNESBURG – A Holbrook man and his girlfriend were arrested Friday and charged with the July 27 robbery of the Rush Grocery Store in Rogersville.
Curtis M. Vanbuskirk, 26, of Holbrook and Michelle L. Cain, 26, of Cameron, W.Va., were arrested during a traffic stop in the Waynesburg area after the two failed to turn themselves into authorities as planned, state police said.
Police said Vanbuskirk entered the grocery store about 9:50 p.m. July 27 and handed the store owner and clerk Judy Rush a note demanding money and threatened to shoot her if she did not comply with his demand. Police said Rush struggled with Vanbuskirk, who then allegedly told her he would shoot both her and a child that was standing behind her if she did not give him the cash. Police did not identify the child in court documents.
Rush backed up and Vanbuskirk was able to grab $100 from the cash register. He then left the store.
Police reviewed the store’s surveillance video, which showed Vanbuskirk arriving at the store in a white Ford pickup truck. A photograph of Vanbuskirk was released to local media July 29.
Police said July 31 they receive two anonymous tips the robber might be Vanbuskirk. They were also informed the parents of Vanbuskirk’s girlfriend, Cain, own a white Ford F-150 truck.
Police interviewed Cain’s mother, Tammy Cain, who told them her daughter used the truck that day. After learning of the robbery and viewing the surveillance video, Tammy Cain said she confronted her daughter about the incident, police said.
Tammy Cain said her daughter said she was with Vanbuskirk that day and he had asked her to stop at Rush’s store so he could use the bathroom. Vanbuskirk went into the store and came out and they drove off. Michelle Cain told her mother she dropped Vanbuskirk off at the intersection of Route 18 and Route 21 because they were arguing.
Michelle Cain also told her mother she did not know anything about Vanbuskirk robbing the store. Police said Tammy Cain was also able to identify the hat Vanbuskirk wore when he entered the store as one belonging to her husband.
Vanbuskirk is charged with robbery, terroristic threats and theft. Cain is charged with conspiracy to commit the same crimes. District Judge Glenn Bates arraigned them Friday and the two were placed in Greene County jail on $30,000 bond each. Their preliminary hearings are schedule for 11 a.m. Aug. 17 before District Judge Lou Dayich.