Cortland man faces robbery charges

Staff report

CORTLAND

Mitchell N. Ballard, 39, of 197 N. High St., will be arraigned today in Central District Court on a felony robbery charge after police said he robbed the Circle K store on South High Street at 2:15 a.m. Thursday.

Police said Ballard entered the store wearing a stocking cap, hooded jacket and pantyhose over his head and demanded that the clerk give him cash from the register.

The suspect left the store on foot toward the rear of the store. He didn’t mention a weapon.

The clerk recognized the suspect as a frequent patron who lived near the store and had smoked a cigarette with the clerk less than two weeks ago, police said. She told officers his name.

Officers went to Ballard’s home. After Ballard gave police permission to search his home, they found $73 in cash in his shorts. The denominations — $1 and $5 bills — matched the bills taken during the robbery. Ballard was arrested and taken to the Trumbull County jail.

Police plan to obtain DNA from Ballard in hopes of matching it to the clothing and rubber gloves found behind the store. The gloves and clothing matched the description the store clerk gave, police said.