Mt. Pleasant police arrested a husband and wife Friday who are suspected of repeatedly robbing a borough convenience store for drug money.
Joseph Harris, 20, and Amanda Harris, 18, of 17 S. Depot St., were each charged on multiple counts of terroristic threats, simple assault, robbery, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.
Police say Joseph Harris robbed the Honey Bear store at 120 W. Main St. on April 9, 10 and 16 while his wife waited nearby.
"The husband walked in with a shotgun and demanded money, and the wife drove the getaway car," police Chief Steve Ober said.
During the first robbery, police allege Joseph Harris entered the store at 3:30 p.m. brandishing a 16-gauge shotgun and told the clerk, "This is a (expletive) hold-up," and not to move or he'd "blow his (expletive) face off."
Joseph Harris left the store with $290, and the couple drove to Derry to buy drugs, according to a criminal complaint filed with District Judge Roger Eckels in Norvelt.
The next day, the couple returned to the store at 9:35 p.m. and Joseph Harris entered with a tire iron concealed in his pants, police said. He approached the counter to buy a bottle of pop but then grabbed a fistful of money when the clerk opened the cash register.
After a short struggle with the clerk, Joseph Harris fled with $40 and met Amanda Harris in the getaway car, according to the complaint.
During the third robbery, Joseph Harris returned with the 16-gauge shotgun. He entered the store at 8:07 p.m. and told the clerk, "Give me all the (expletive) money."
The couple then fled with $179, police said.
After a composite sketch was published in local newspapers, tipsters steered Mt. Pleasant police to Joseph Harris.
Amanda Harris told police each of the robberies was "her idea," according to the complaint.
A similar robbery Thursday at the CoGo's store on Main Street does not appear to be the work of Joseph and Amanda Harris, Ober said.
"We're thinking maybe that wasn't them," he said. "They have cooperated completely on these other three, but they deny involvement in that incident."
Both defendants are now being housed in Westmoreland County Prison, according to prison officials.
