Alleged robber accused of assaulting Kline Twp. business owner nabbed in Luzerne County
DRUMS – A man accused of robbing a McAdoo area business owner and stealing his gun was caught north of Hazleton thanks in part to a tipster, police said.
Chase Lynn Abbitt, 21, was arrested by Butler Township (Luzerne County) Police Thursday afternoon at Rittenhouse Place in Drums.
Officers were called to the plaza around 1pm after a citizen spotted the man matching the description of a man wanted by Kline Township Police for a strong-armed robbery Wednesday.
“Criminals don’t know municipal boundaries,” Butler Township Police Chief William Feissner said. “This criminal assaulted and robbed a victim in Schuylkill County [Wednesday]. If an alert citizen didn’t trust the police and take the initiative to report their suspicion, this violent, armed suspect would have likely victimized a person in our community.”
“This honorable citizen did not want public recognition, but we thank him for contribution to making our community safer,” he added.
Abbitt was seen sitting on a bench, carrying the same backpack as he was at the time of Wednesday’s robbery at JF Enterprises south of McAdoo.
Police said Abbitt is currently homeless but is originally from Los Angeles.
Abbitt, according to Kline Township Police, assaulted the proprietor of JF Enterprises and stole his firearm before fleeing.
Butler Township Police recovered that firearm Thursday.
He was arraigned on felony charges of receiving stolen property and firearms not to be carried without a license and committed to Luzerne County Prison. Bail was denied.
Butler Township Police were assisted by Conyngham and Freeland boroughs, Sugarloaf Township and Hazleton City Police Detectives.
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