CLEARFIELD – Three area males have been named suspects in an alleged robbery following an incident at the Walmart Supercenter, Clearfield, on Friday.
Lawrence Township police have identified the suspects as Ronald Pinto, 18, of Wallaceton, Jonathan Pennington Jr., 20, of Madera and Michael Young, 19, of Morrisdale.
Police say at approximately 3:15 p.m. Friday, a report was received about a store employee being threatened with a knife. His phone and wallet had also been stolen, the caller said.
Upon further investigation, it was found the employee was off work but at the store being forced to withdraw money from his paycheck early.
Pinto, Pennington and Young had picked up the victim in Curwensville and transported him to Clearfield to acquire money from his bank accounts.
During the incident, they took his wallet and beat him up, according to police. They allegedly strangled the victim with a rope, burned him with cigarettes and threatened to “chop” him up with a hatchet.
Pinto, Pennington and Young fled the scene prior to police arrival and have been charged with robbery, assault, terroristic threats and related offenses.