Tuesday, March 8, 2005
In all, police confiscated $3,567, a gun and two bank deposit bags.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Beaver Township search dog Kaz followed the trail of an armed robber, maybe sniffing McDonald's hamburger-scented money along the way, and found both.
James H. Torbert III, 19, of Penhale Avenue, Campbell, was arraigned Monday in municipal court on a charge of aggravated robbery. Bond was set at $75,000 and a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 16.
The robbery-in-progress call went out around 10 p.m. Sunday for McDonald's at 570 Fifth Ave. The police dispatcher advised that the suspect, in red pants, blue jacket, dark skull cap and blue bandanna, had run out the back door of the fast-food restaurant toward Grant Street.
Within minutes, police who converged on the scene used their cruisers to set up a perimeter blockade, effectively closing off that section of the North Side for the suspect trying to make a getaway on foot. Youngstown State University police assisted.
The McDonald's manager told police that the robber, acting like he had a gun under his coat, came in the side door and demanded money. Employees ran out, leaving the safe unlocked.
Digitally recorded surveillance video shows someone enter, go behind the counter and take money from the safe's drawers, police said. He broke the alarm on the door as he left.
On the trail
When Beaver Township Patrolman Dan Lewis showed up with Kaz, they took the dog to the last place the suspect was seen. The trail led northwest and then to an abandoned garage behind 355 Scott St.
Police said Kaz led them to the suspect, who they say was found sitting in the garage on a 5-gallon bucket, his feet surrounded by cash, the bandanna covering his face. A loaded .40-caliber Glock pistol was found behind the bucket.
Police said that as the suspect stood, more cash fell out of his pants pockets, police said. The suspect also volunteered that he had another wad of cash in his coat, police said.
In all, police confiscated $3,567.
Police said Torbert was taken back to McDonald's, where witnesses identified him as the robber.
Police said Torbert, on his way to jail, burst out: "It was me, I did it. I know if I do something wrong I have to pay the price."
Torbert also told police that, while on the bucket, he held his breath so the dog wouldn't find him.
Evidence collected from the garage included plastic bags McDonald's uses to deposit money. Change and deposit slips were inside the bags.