CLARION BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — Clarion Borough Police have apprehended a man accused in an armed robbery early Saturday morning at a convenience store along Main Street.

Police Chief Bill Peck told exploreClarion.com that 23-year-old transient Christopher Lee Wyant was arrested around 9:00 a.m. on charges of robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, and simple assault.

The charges stem from an armed robbery at Valero convenience store Saturday around 4:01 a.m.

Chief Peck said a masked man wielding two kitchen knives entered the store and demanded the clerk put money and cigarettes into a garbage bag.

The clerk complied and placed approximately $800.00 cash and several cartons of cigarettes in the bag.

The masked man fled the store on a bicycle, and the clerk immediately called 911.

Clarion Borough Police responded to the scene and found a trail of money and cigarettes that led officers across the street to an area behind the Clarion County Administration Building.

It was there that police found a bicycle and a cell phone.

Officer Evan Maxwell recognized the bicycle from a noise complaint call at a Merle Street apartment around 2:22 a.m.

“He just happened to notice the bicycle while he was on the call,” said Chief Peck.

Police returned to the Merle Street apartment and questioned Christopher Wyant about the robbery.

Wyant denied any involvement and told police that a relative borrowed his bicycle.

Further investigation revealed the relative was at work when the robbery occurred and did not borrow the bicycle, according to Chief Peck.

Officers returned to the apartment and recovered the garbage bag filled with cigarettes and approximately $200.00 cash.

Wyant was taken into custody around 9:00 a.m. and arraigned by District Judge Timothy P. Schill.

He was placed in the Clarion County Jail after failing to post $250,000.00 cash bail.

Chief Peck credited Officer Maxwell for his investigative work in apprehending the suspect less than five hours after the robbery.

“That’s just top notch police work from my young officer,” said Chief Peck. “Officer Maxwell has a bright future.”

Clarion-based State Police and Clarion University Police also assisted with the investigation.

No injuries were reported.