May 2, 2017 2 min read

A Monessen woman was arraigned Tuesday on charges stemming from a convenience store robbery in Monongahela in which she’s accused of attempting to run over a clerk with the getaway car.

District Judge James Ellis arraigned Lori Lee Pidich, 45, over the telephone from his office in Peters Township. Pidich is being held in Westmoreland County jail on charges she stole her mother’s car before driving April 22 to the 7-Eleven in Monongahela, court records show.

Ellis set her bond at $50,000 with instructions to transfer her to Washington County jail after she faces the Monessen stolen vehicle case, a court official said.

Pidich, of 24 Crescent Drive, is accused of walking into the convenience store at 200 Dry Run Road about 10 p.m., telling a male clerk she had a gun and threatening to use it if he didn’t open the cash drawer, police said. She allegedly grabbed an undisclosed amount of money and packs of cigarettes before fleeing in a white sedan.

A female clerk told police she was nearly struck by the car as she attempted to take a photograph of its license plate, and that she was able to get only part of the plate number.

Pidich is charged in the Monongahela case with robbery, making terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, theft and retail theft.

After being wanted for five days, she was arrested Friday and taken to Westmoreland jail on $5,000 bond, facing charges of theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended or revoked license, reckless endangerment and fleeing from police.

Monessen police accused her of stealing a gold bracelet worth $1,400 and a 2009 Nissan Maxima from her mother, Joanne Pidich of the same address, about 9 p.m. April 22, court records show. She also is accused of nearly striking a stopped police cruiser during a pursuit in the city. The stolen car was later found by state police in Brownsville.