CLEARFIELD – Two brothers have been accused of stealing metal items from two East Walnut Street residences in May. Both were scheduled for preliminary hearings Wednesday at the Clearfield County Jail.
Scott Howard Lee Robison, 33, of Clearfield has been charged by Clearfield Borough police with two counts each of burglary, F2, criminal trespass, F3, theft by unlawful taking, M2, and receiving stolen property, M2; possession of instrument of crime, M1; and criminal mischief, F3.
Allen Wayne Robison III, 34, of Clearfield has also been charged with two counts each of burglary, F2, criminal trespass, F3, theft by unlawful taking, M2, receiving stolen property, M2 and criminal mischief, F3; possession of instrument of crime, M1; and careless driving, S.
Allen Robison failed to appear for his hearing, and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. All charges were subsequently held to court in his absentia by Magisterial District Judge James Hawkins.
Scott Robison waived his right to a hearing and sent the charges against him to court for further disposition. His bail was modified from $25,000 monetary to unsecured.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on May 17, police received a report about suspicious activity. A bronze Chevrolet Blazer had been observed in the 400 block of East Walnut Street, and two males appeared to be removing piping from a residence.
While responding to the residence, officers observed the blazer quickly exit the driveway. Its bumper was almost making contact with the roadway due to it carrying such a heavy load.
Police followed the vehicle, which went north on Ulerich Avenue at a high rate of speed. When police turned onto the street, the officer observed the suspect vehicle turning right onto East Cherry Street. When the officer reached there, the vehicle was gone.
The officer quickly turned onto East Cherry Street and then onto South Fifth Street. He continued to East Market Street and when he turned right, he observed the rear of the blazer. The blazer was quickly accelerating up Clark Street.
The officer continued his pursuit and observed the blazer, as it turned right onto Hill Street from High Street. He was able to get behind the blazer when it turned right onto Wrigley Street and activated his emergency lights. The blazer came to a stop on the corner of Wrigley and Clark streets.
The officer then made contact with the driver who was Allen Robison. In the passenger’s seat was his brother, Scott Robison. Allen Robison was wearing gloves and visibly nervous. The officer immediately observed that the rear of the blazer was full of a large amount of different metal piping.
The officer also detected a strong odor of chemicals emitting from inside the driver’s compartment. Allen Robison was advised police had received a report about suspicious activity in the 400 block of East Walnut Street, and his blazer matched the provided description.
Allen Robison allegedly admitted he was removing junk from the residence with his brother. He told the officer the owner had given him permission to clean it out, and some of the metal in the back of his blazer was removed from inside it.
Assistant Chief Greg Neeper responded to the East Walnut Street residence to further the investigation. Both Allen and Scott Robison were taken into custody and to the borough police station for questioning; the blazer was towed to a local garage.
In an interview, Scott Robison said his brother had asked him to help at the residence. His brother’s plan was allegedly to remove items and take them to Novey’s Recycling. However, he denied that he entered the residence but admitted to taking items from the yard.
Scott Robison said he took a tire rim, some conduit and metal pipe. He then loaded them into the blazer. He noticed a man in the area and he was acting suspicious. As a result, he said he and his brother got into the blazer and left.
Allen Robison allegedly admitted that he was taking metal from an adjacent property. While there, he saw pipe sticking out of the collapsed roof at another residence. He allegedly admitted to entering it and taking approximately 100 feet of steel pipe, and it’s what was located in the blazer.
While at that residence on East Walnut Street, Neeper located three large tanks that were leaking a chemical into the dirt floor. He also observed that electrical wiring and copper pipe were cut and missing throughout it.
Neeper subsequently summoned the Clearfield Volunteer Fire Department due to the hazardous leak of a chemical later identified as tetrachloroethylene.
The fire chief requested assistance from the Clearfield County Emergency Management Agency, Department of Environmental Protection and Code Enforcement Officer Larry Mack.
While at the scene, Neeper observed another residence was not secured. The basement door area appeared to be disturbed, as well.
When he checked the residence, he noticed a hole in the drywall, which permitted access from the basement to the living room. Neeper found that various copper wiring was cut and missing throughout it.
On May 18, officers went to conduct a consent search of Allen Robison’s blazer. When police opened the rear hatch, they observed a large amount of various miscellaneous metal items, and were consistent with that taken from the East Walnut Street residences.
The search of the blazer also revealed multiple tools that were used to cut and pry the metal. The tools included crow bars, wrenches, pliers, shears, electrical saws, blades, extension cords to power saws, gloves and safety glasses.
Police went to Novey’s Recycling for an approximate weight and value of the metal. The stolen metal weighed 1,500 pounds and was valued at $101.25.
Police also requested Bigler Boyz Environmental to provide an estimate on the clean-up. The total clean-up of the tetrachloroethylene exceeded $5,000.