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JERSEY SHORE – Jess Lee Rauch, 44, has been arrested and jailed on charges of allegedly robbing Smokers Express, 350 Allegheny St., on Thursday morning, Tiadaghton Valley Regional Patrolman Justin Segura said.
No one was injured in the robbery, which was reported about 7:15 a m., he said.
After fleeing the store on foot, a man matching the description of the robber was seen getting into a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, parked two blocks west of the store, police said.
A volunteer firefighter who had heard the clothing description of the bandit over a police radio stopped an officer on the street and pointed to an SUV, telling the cop he just saw the suspect get in the vehicle, Segura said.
As the officer approached the Jeep, the driver sped off. A second officer joined in the vehicle pursuit, which eventually ended in the 100 block of Arch Street.
On Arch Street, the driver, later identified as Rauch, jumped out and took off on foot, but he was soon caught hiding under a table in a nearby yard.
Rauch had ditched the cash he allegedly stole from the store, but it was recovered near him, police said. He was nabbed within 15 minutes of the holdup, police said.
Arraigned before District Judge Jerry C. Lepley on charges of robbery, theft, fleeing police and related offenses, Rauch, of the 1100 block of Allegheny Street, was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail.