A Port Matilda man has been charged for the alleged robbery of Krishan Indian Market, 230 W. College Ave, in January.
At 3:54 p.m. on Jan. 19, State College Police responded to the store, where the 73-year-old owner said a male, later identified by police as Paul D. Sweeney, Jr., 29, approached the register, which was already open, and demanded that she give him money. He then took about $100 in cash and left the store, turning west on West College Avenue, according to a criminal complaint filed on Thursday.
The store owner described the suspect as a white male, approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and wearing a black ball cap, black jacket, black pants, black shoes, sunglasses and a white scarf over his face. She told police a male of the same height and build came into the store twice earlier that day between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., asking if the store had any shoelaces and if they had any jobs available.
A State College detective obtained from Penn State police video footage from cameras at the West Campus Steam Plant which were pointed toward College Avenue. According to the complaint, at about 3:30 p.m. a car entered the parking lot at 322 W. College Ave. and the suspect exited then walked east on West College Avenue. Police said as he reached Starbucks, he went around the corner southbound in the direction of Krishan.
The suspect appeared on camera again at 3:51 p.m. as he emerged northbound, turned west on West College Avenue and began running, police said. He reportedly returned to the car and pulled out in between two other vehicles, nearly causing a crash, then drove southbound toward Calder Alley. Police said he matched the description provided by the store owner.
A Centre County Sheriff deputy found the suspect vehicle on Jan. 27 at an apartment building in Bellefonte and identified the car as belonging to Sweeney. Police said Sweeney’s appearance matched the suspect in the video.
A detective questioned Sweeney on Tuesday and asked if he was the primary driver of the car. Sweeney allegedly said he was but immediately added that he had loaned it to ‘a buddy of mine one or two weeks ago,’ when Sweeney claimed he was in the hospital. Police said Sweeney would not say why he was in the hospital or identify the friend to whom he loaned the car.
Police obtained a search warrant on Wednesday for Sweeney’s medical records and said the last time he was in the hospital was on Jan. 7 and he was discharged on Jan. 8, 11 days before the robbery.
Sweeney reportedly denied having stolen money from the store. When he was told police had video of him and his vehicle, he again denied being involved, according to the complaint.
He allegedly told police that he was in the store one or two weeks earlier looking for work and that the owner had his name and number. Police said he claimed to know the owner well, but did not correctly identify her name and said the last time he spoke with her was 10 to 15 years ago. He then ended the interview and said he was done talking.
Police contacted the store owner, who reportedly said she remembered the male who came into the store asking about work saying his name was ‘Paul.’ She positively identified Sweeney in a photo lineup as the man who had come into the store twice before the robbery, police said.
Sweeney was charged with one second-degree felony count of robbery and misdemeanor counts of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. He also received summary charges of driving with a suspended license.
He was arraigned on Thursday before District Judge Steven Lachman and bail was set at $20,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 14.
