Feb 27, 2017 3 min read

An East Washington man already facing charges including burglary and theft was arrested Friday afternoon by East Washington and South Strabane Township police after he allegedly committed additional crimes.

Justin Paul Platt, 29, of 15 North Ave., was taken into custody after he allegedly stole money from the register at Motel 6 in South Strabane. He fled after being placed in handcuffs but was taken into custody again a short time later, police said.

Borough police Chief David Bradley said Monday Platt has an addiction problem and most of his alleged crimes happened near his home.

Borough police were called Thursday to 43 North for a report of a burglary and the theft of a Playstation and four games. Police found the Playstation at a Highland Avenue pawn shop. The man who sold it at the shop told police Platt paid him $20 to pawn the video game system.

On Friday, police were called to Motel 6 for a report of a man stealing money from the register. The general manager told police she noticed a man wearing a gray fleece shirt with a brown T-shirt underneath lurking in the area of the night desk and vending machines. When she told him the area had video surveillance, he left.

A short time later a man wearing a brown T-shirt and black ski mask leaned over the front desk, opened the register and stole money. Police said they checked the surveillance and identified Platt. They said the fleece shirt he had been wearing and a ball cap were recovered near the vending machines.

Platt was spotted on North. Police took him into custody and placed him in handcuffs, but he was able to break free. He was found a short time later without the cuffs, which were found on the back porch of a nearby home, police said.

Platt has four pending cases against him on charges filed earlier this month. Washington police charged him with burglary and theft for a July 17 burglary. East Washington police charged him with burglary, theft and receiving for a July 28 burglary. Borough police also charged him with theft, criminal trespass and receiving stolen property for allegedly stealing $600 from a home at 43 North.

He also is charged with receiving stolen property and theft for allegedly stealing a cellphone from 31 North. His parents, Darlene and Alvin Platt, were charged with hindering apprehension and criminal solicitation after they allegedly went to that victim’s home and agreed to return the cellphone if the woman signed a paper acknowledging the receipt of the undamaged phone and agreeing not to press charges against their son.

Platt was arraigned before District Judge Larry Hopkins, who set bond on the South Strabane charges of theft, flight to avoid apprehension, escape, criminal trespass and receiving stolen property at $100,000. Hopkins set an additional $50,000 bond on the East Washington charges of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass. Platt is scheduled for a March 9 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller on the latest charges.