LAWRENCE COUNTY Four face charges in bank robberies

All of the suspects are being held with bond set at $100,000 each.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- It was a busy day for area police with three bank robberies in a matter of hours. But one suspect made it easy, turning himself in.
Dale Marburger, 42, arrived at the New Castle Police Station at 12:27 a.m. today saying he was responsible for two bank robberies at Sky Bank locations.
Police believe a third attempted robbery at First Choice Credit Union on Wilmington Road is related. Another man was arrested shortly after that robbery.
Marburger gave police a taped statement and told them he robbed the two banks with two women he met that day.
The women, identified as Debbie Ann Brown, 43, who contends she is homeless, and Tierra Nichole Smith, 23, of 5 E. Wallace Ave., Apt. 213, are apparently mother and daughter, police said. They were arrested sometime after Marburger appeared at the police station.
Police Chief Tom Sansone said Marburger told them he has a drug habit and has been living at the New Castle City Rescue Mission. His home address was listed as 167 Jo Deener Road, Zelienople, Pa., on police reports.
What happened
Police said Marburger and Brown went into Sky Bank on East Washington Street at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and Marburger told the teller he wanted to withdraw some money. The teller asked for a Social Security number and he gave some numbers that didn't register in the computer system, police said.
When the teller asked for the number again, the robber demanded cash. Police said the robber grabbed a few stacks of money and then told the teller that was enough. They estimate he took less than $100.
Police said Marburger and Brown, who tellers thought was a man, walked out of the Mercer Street entrance and into a waiting car. Police said Smith was driving. Marburger told police he gave Smith $5 for gasoline after they left the downtown bank.
Neshannock Police said the trio went to the Sky Bank on Wilmington Road at 2:56 p.m. Tuesday.
Police said Marburger and Brown went inside and saw a teller counting money. Marburger approached a second teller saying, "I want money. I'm not kidding," police said. The teller did not give up any money, and the two left.
Credit union
New Castle Police arrested a third man who went into the First Choice Credit Union at 2:48 p.m. Tuesday and demanded cash. The teller refused to give him money, and the man ran off.
New Castle Police Lt. Tom Macri saw the man and chased him to the apartment building at 5 E. Wallace Ave., where the two struggled over Macri's revolver. A second officer arrived, and they were able to take the suspect into custody.
Police said the man identified himself as Quincy Hatcher, 40, of 5 E. Wallace, Apt. 113, but they believe it is an alias. His fingerprints identified him as another person, but they are still waiting for positive identification, Sansone said.
The police chief noted that the suspect in the credit union robbery and Smith live in the same apartment building, one floor apart.
"I think there is a good chance these [bank robberies] are related. What are the chances of two people living in the same apartment building attempting to rob banks on the same day," he said.
FBI involvement
Sansone noted that the FBI was called in to investigate.
Marburger, Smith, Brown and Hatcher are all being held in the Lawrence County Jail with bond set at $100,000 each. Marburger is charged with two counts of robbery, receiving stolen property and theft by unlawful taking.
Brown and Smith were each charged with conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit theft and conspiracy to receive stolen property.
The man held in the credit union robbery is charged with robbery, criminal attempt at theft, terroristic threats, aggravated assault and resisting arrest.
cioffi@vindy.com