| ATTEMPTED GAMBLING PARLOR ROBBERY FOILED - An Oakland, Maryland man has been charged with first-degree armed robbery after trying to rob a gambling parlor.
State Police say Charles Wassil, 44, entered D.J.'s Coffee House in Brandonville, Preston County, Monday and held a knife to the neck of a female employee, demanding money.
The woman called out for help and a patron wrestled Wassil to the ground for 20 minutes until police arrived.
Wassil was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for a fractured vertebrae and a concussion.
Wassil has an extensive criminal background, including multiple robbery and armed-robbery offenses dating back into the 1980s.
He is currently being held at the Tygart Regional Jail on $250,000 bail.
BP GAS STATION ROBBERY - Two people have been arrested in connection with an early morning armed robbery of a BP gas station in Huntington, Tuesday.
Justin Roberts, 25, was arrested in connection with the robbery.
He has been charged with first degree robbery, obstruction and battery on a government official.
Erika Ellis-Rudolph, 37, was arrested on accessory charges.
Police used a K9 unit's tracking and followed footprints in the snow from the gas station to Malone Apartments.
Roberts and Ellis-Rudolph were booked in Western Regional Jail.
KNIFE HOLD-UP IN PARKERSBURG - Police are looking for a suspect believed to have robbed a Parkersburg business at knife point.
Police responded to a call about an armed robbery at the 7-Eleven on the corner 7th Street and Park Avenue, Tuesday.
Dispatchers said the suspect allegedly pulled a knife on the clerk and sped off in a black SUV. It was unclear what was stolen.
ST. ALBANS ROBBERY - Police are investigating an alleged armed robbery that happened in St. Albans, Thursday.
Two men got into a fight. One of the men allegedly owed the other man money. The debtor pulled out a gun and demanded that the man hand over his cash, reports said.
CHARLESTON WOMAN ROBBED - Two men are behind bars after police say they robbed a Charleston woman at gunpoint and then ran off, only to be found by police a short time later.
Police say Shelly Cummings, 29, was walking along the 200 block of Ruffner Avenue on Charleston's East End, Thursday, when two men approached her.
Cummings told police one of the men held a silver handgun to her head while the other man snatched her purse.
Brandon Sanders, 19, and Sean Ford, 40, both of Charleston, were found and charged with first degree robbery and a misdemeanor of possession of marijuana.
Police say Ford had pills on him and was also charged with possession with intent to deliver.
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