Lebanon city police announced Sunday evening, Nov. 13, that a suspect has been arrested over charges related to a string of robberies in downtown Lebanon over the weekend.
The first occurred on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 2:30 p.m. inside Roquez Convenience Store & Grocery, 37 N. 9th St. Police were told that the suspect entered the store and approached the counter, demanding money with a screwdriver-like object in hand. The suspect proceeded to flee without any money when the clerk went to the back of the store.
The second incident occurred just a few hours later at a T-Mobile store on Cumberland Street. The suspect was said to have entered the store and approached the counter, stating “Give me all the money in the register” and alluding to a weapon. The suspect was successful in fleeing the store with an undetermined amount of money.
Police said that surveillance video from both locations was reviewed, as well as surveillance footage from other cameras in the area, leading police to 19-year-old Lebanon resident Joel Weise, who was arrested Sunday at his house.
Weise was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Anthony Verna and charged with six counts of robbery, including five felony charges, before being remanded to Lebanon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Police said that Weise also stands accused of committing robberies at the Gulf Gas Station at 1201 Cumberland St. on Oct. 30; the Turkey Hill at 524 S. Lincoln Ave. on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7; and the Smoke and Chill at 436 E. Lehman St. on Nov. 6. Charges have not yet been filed over those incidents.
The Lebanon County Drug Task Force assisted the Lebanon City Police Department in the investigation.
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