KYLERTOWN – A Gifford, Pa. man is facing charges for allegedly robbing a local convenience store at gunpoint.
Tyler Jamal Newman, 19, has been charged by Trooper David Patrick of the Clearfield-based state police with felony counts of robbery and theft by unlawful taking.
He’s also been charged with misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person, plus summary harassment. His bail has been set at $250,000.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, troopers responded to a report of an armed robbery at Kwik Fill in Kylertown.
On-scene an employee said just minutes earlier, an African American male entered the store and brandished what appeared to be a silver and black semi-automatic handgun.
The male allegedly pointed the weapon straight at the employee and stated “give me all the money in the register. Don’t worry I’m not going to shoot you; it’s nothing personal.”
The employee said he gave the male approximately $200 to $300 in cash from the register. He said the male also asked for a pack of Newport 100s.
While he retrieved the pack, he said the male stated, “Not to be greedy but give me a Bic lighter, too.” He provided troopers with a physical description, saying the male fled in a silver Nissan Xterra.
A be-on-the-look-out alert was sent out on the suspect vehicle, which was believed to be headed south on state Route 53, to the surrounding areas.
At approximately 12:58 a.m., Rockview-based state troopers encountered the vehicle at a truck stop in Snow Shoe. Inside was a male matching the robbery suspect’s physical description.
A “hit confirmation” was sent out and investigating troopers found out the vehicle was stolen out of Ridgway, according to the affidavit.
Troopers subsequently identified the male as Newman and inside the vehicle were a silver and black bb gun and $286 in cash. He was taken into custody and to the Clearfield barracks.
During the transport, Newman was read his Miranda Warnings, and he reportedly confessed to robbing the Kwik Fill store. Troopers recorded his confession on both audio and video.
Newman is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 20 during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail.
