DUBOIS – A robbery in progress at the Nelson House in DuBois on Saturday resulted in man dying and another being captured by police.
According to the DuBois City Police Department, officers were dispatched to the area of North Main Street and Quarry Avenue around 6:16 a.m. for a report of a man chasing another man on foot near the Nelson House. En route police received additional information stating that a man was lying on the sidewalk along North Main Street in front of the Nelson House.
Once on scene police located the owner of the Nelson House, Edward Walko lying unresponsive sidewalk. Emergency medical services was notified and responded to the scene.
Witnesses at the scene assisted and followed the suspect in their vehicles as he fled the area on foot. They lost sight of him several blocks away. Witnesses provided a detailed physical de scri ption of the suspect and also his direction of travel to police. Officers began searching the area and found a flashlight and a hooded sweatshirt that had been dropped by the suspect as he was fleeing.
Due to the detailed de scri ption provided by witnesses, as well as other information gathered at the scene, officers located the suspect, Justin M. Powers, at his residence in the 400 block of South Main Street.
Powers was taken into custody and questioned about the incident. Police learned that Powers had attempted to enter a side door of the Nelson House in order to burglarize the business. However, Walko, who was inside, confronted Powers.
Powers attempted to flee and was pursued by Walko. Witnesses reported that they heard Walko yelling for Powers to stop. Witnesses joined in the pursuit while Walko stopped and collapsed on the sidewalk.
Upon arrival EMS personnel determined that Walko was dead.
Powers was arrested for attempted burglary, burglary, attempted criminal trespass, criminal trespass and attempted theft. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Richard Ireland and placed in Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.
Due to the death of Walko further charges may be pending against Powers once a cause of death is determined.
The DuBois City Police Department were assisted by the Sandy Township Police Department and a K-9 unit from the St. Marys City Police.
