SUSPECT IN THEFT AT SMOKE SHOP IN BURRELL TOWNSHIP APPREHENDED

State police have apprehended a suspect in a theft from a smoke shop in Burrell Township last week.

Troopers say 29-year-old Robert Joseph Corson, Jr. of Saltsburg was taken into custody on November 7^th at his home in Saltsburg Borough.  The day before, police reported a holdup at Royal Smoke on Route 22 West at 9:18 AM where the suspect brandished a knife at a staffer and took a bottle of Kratom before fleeing the scene.  After state police released pictures of the getaway vehicle, someone called in a top saying the van was found in Saltsburg outside of an apartment.  While troopers could not find the van, they found Courson at his home and discovered that there were warrants out for his arrest.  He provided police with a false name and was taken into custody.  Courson was then interviewed by police and officers determined that he was the suspect in the robbery.

Courson was arraigned on Sunday before District Judge Anthony Sottile and placed in Indiana County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.  A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12^th.