Eastern Express-Times
STROUD TWP., Penn. — An observant police officer noticed a passer-by wearing a mask immediately before the man robbed a convenience store, police say.
Eric Anthony Florio, of Bangor, was a passenger in a car that drove by Stroud Area Regional Police officer David Singer about 7:25 p.m. Wednesday on Route 611, police say.
Singer turned his car around just in time to see the car pull into the Sunoco Park Mart Gas Station. Florio went into the store wearing a mask and carrying a handgun, police say.
Florio took the cash tray, with an undisclosed amount of money, from the store and got into the car driven by Steven Douglas Borton, of Plainfield Township, police say. Singer chased the car until Borton turned onto Dogwood Road in the township, which is a dead-end road.
Florio was immediately taken into custody, but Borton ran from police, they said. He was caught in the area of PVP Camp Ground.
Florio, 18, of Ridge Road, was charged Thursday with robbery, theft and simple assault. Borton, 22, of the 500 block of Clyde Street, was arraigned Thursday on charges of robbery, conspiracy and theft. Each man was sent to Monroe County Prison in lieu of posting $25,000 bail.
It was not immediately clear if either man had an attorney.
The Stroud Area Regional Police detective unit took over the investigation. Pocono Mountain Regional police and the Pocono Township police, including its K-9 unit, assisted.
Copyright 2010 Eastern Express Times