Man Accused in Attempted Knifepoint Robbery Held for Court

| August 30, 2018

CHERRYTREE TWP., Pa. (EYT) – An area man accused in an attempted robbery in Cherrytree Township was held for court on Wednesday.

Thomas P. Peeples, 45, of Titusville, was held for court on the following charges in a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish:

– Robbery-Threat Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1
– Terroristic Threats W/Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1
– Unlawful Restraint/Serious Bodily Injury, Misdemeanor 1
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Criminal Mischief-Damage Property, Misdemeanor 3

Franklin-based State Police filed the charges on August 22.

The case has been transferred to the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.

Around 11:15 p.m. on Monday, August 20, a known 27-year-old male victim was preparing to leave a bar in Titusville. Prior to leaving the bar, the victim had mentioned to another patron that he was traveling towards Oil City. Before the victim left the bar, this unknown male patron asked the victim for a ride back to Oil City, and the victim agreed. The two men then left together, according to a criminal complaint.

As the victim was traveling southbound on State Route 8 in Cherrytree Township, near the intersection with Petroleum Center Road, the man allegedly pulled a knife on the victim, threatened him, and demanded money. The victim told the man he would drive him to the Country Fair in Oil City, so he could get money out of his account, the complaint states.

According to the complaint, once they arrived at the Country Fair, both men exited the vehicle, but the victim managed to get back into the vehicle and lock the doors before the perpetrator could get back inside. As the victim left the County Fair parking lot, the perpetrator struck one of the victim’s windows with the knife.

The victim then called 9-1-1 and went to the Oil City Police Department to speak with an officer about the incident. The victim also discovered that the perpetrator had left his cell phone in the vehicle and turned the phone over to the police, the complaint indicates.

The complaint notes that once the Oil City Police Officers realized the man had initially pulled out the knife and threatened the victim outside of the Oil City limits, they notified the Franklin-based State Police.

Troopers Seybert and Grzasko, of PSP Franklin, responded to the Oil City Police Department where they were provided with the cell phone the perpetrator had left in the vehicle. They also observed the scratches on the victim’s vehicle window.

On Tuesday, August 21, a search warrant was granted by Magisterial District Judge Andrew Fish for the cell phone left in the victim’s vehicle. A search of the phone’s contents revealed the owner of the cell phone was Thomas Peeples, according to the complaint.

On Wednesday, August 22, the victim was presented with a photo lineup with included a photo of Peeples. The victim positively identified Peeples from the photo lineup, the complaint states.

Peeples was taken into custody later on Wednesday, August 22.

A search was conducted, and Peeples was discovered to be in possession of a knife consistent with the description provided by the victim.

Peeples was arraigned at 3:30 p.m. on August 22 before Judge Fish.

Bail was denied as the court states Peeples is a threat to society.

He remains lodged in the Venango County Jail.


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