Mar 17, 2015 3 min read

Washington police are looking for a 27-year-old Washington man in connection with an armed robbery at Highland Avenue pawnshop last month after arresting the robber’s alleged accomplice Monday.

Police obtained an arrest warrant for Joseph Valentino Monroe of Shannon Avenue on charges of robbery, theft and reckless endangerment for the Feb. 28 robbery of the EZ Cash Pawn Shop, 110 Highland Ave. His alleged accomplice, Shellisa Chandler, 32, of 140 ½ Prospect Ave., Washington, was arrested on a charge of criminal conspiracy.

Police said Monroe pointed a handgun at the pawnshop clerk and ordered him to open the cash register. He reportedly then ordered the clerk to unlock the gun case after unsuccessfully trying to smash it open. Monroe reportedly grabbed handguns valued at $3,200. He also allegedly stole $1,200 from the cash register. He fled on foot toward Lincoln Terrace.

Chandler and Monroe got a ride from Maggie Bober, who told police that the pair directed her to EZ Cash, where Monroe exited the vehicle. Bober said Chandler directed her to park around the corner, but when Monroe didn’t return as quickly as expected, Chandler told her to drive to the Lincoln Terrace housing project. Bober told police that while they were driving, Chandler got a phone call from Monroe advising that he needed to be picked up on Forrest Avenue.

Bober said that when she picked up Monroe, he was carrying a large duffel bag.

Bober said Chandler and Monroe then directed her to drive them to Chandler’s home, following a stop at Uni-Mart on East Maiden Street. Police said store surveillance shows Chandler and Monroe entering Uni-Mart about six minutes after the EZ Cash robbery.

Bober told police that Chandler called her after learning police towed her car and told Bober to lie to investigators about the robbery.

Monroe is also awaiting a preliminary hearing next month before District Judge Jay Weller on a charge of retail theft. South Strabane Township police charged him last week in connection with the theft of a television valued at $798 from Walmart, Trinity Point. Store security told police that he went through a self-checkout but did not pay for the television. He went to customer service in an apparent attempt to return it for a gift card but then left the store with the appliance, police said.

Chandler was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis and placed in Washington County jail on $10,000 straight bond. She is scheduled for a March 30 preliminary hearing on the charge before District Judge Robert Redlinger.