Duo face charges in store robbery
A Pittsburgh man and woman who apparently hid inside a McDonald discount store so they could rob the manager Tuesday night face robbery and other charges.
Jamar Davis, 31, and Kambriah Berchic Jean-Baptiste, 20, were taken into custody shortly after the 8 p.m. robbery at the Family Dollar store, 161 S. Main St., after McDonald police issued a bulletin with the description of their vehicle. The two were stopped on Thomas Run Road at Prestley Road by Collier Township police.
An assistant store manager was checking the store after locking the front door and yelled to make sure no one was inside when she saw Jean-Baptiste and Davis approach her from the rear of the store. Both were dressed all in black. He also wore a black-and-white bandana on his face and was holding a knife.
Davis reportedly ordered the manager away from the register and started collecting money. He and Jean-Baptiste picked up some of the money that had fallen to the floor. Davis ordered the manager to open the safe and he removed the money from it.
They then ordered the manager to the back of the store but she refused. The manager agreed to keep her eyes closed and let them out the front door since she did not have keys to the back door. The manager told police that she saw them get into a red, four-door sedan and go north on South McDonald.
Davis claimed that Jean-Baptiste, his girlfriend, was not an accomplice, telling officers that she did not know what was going on. He told police that he used a box cutter to scare the manager. Davis also claimed that Jean-Baptiste was shopping while the robbery took place.
Davis gave police permission to search his car. Inside, officers found a backpack containing a green money bag with a clear plastic bag labeled “Family Dollar.” Money was in both bags. Police also found a red Family Dollar bag in the backpack along with rolled coins. Also found in the car were a black knife, two sets of used latex gloves and a black-and-white bandana.
Both were arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward on charges of robbery, aggravated assault, having a prohibited offensive weapon, criminal trespass, possessing instruments of a crime, receiving stolen property, theft, reckless endangerment, simple assault and harassment. They are in Washington County jail on $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for June 23 before Senior District Judge Jay Dutton.