Worker Says She Stopped An Armed Robbery At Convenience Store, Then A Suspected Robber Dropped Dead: Police

MIDDLETOWN, NY — A suspect in a failed robbery attempt has died after suffering an undisclosed medical emergency while being held by his would-be victim until police arrived, according to police in Orange County.

The City of Middletown Police Department is investigating the death of the 61-year-old Middletown man following a reported armed robbery that took place at Ezzie's Corner Convenience Store on Wickham Avenue.

At 7:49 p.m., on Wednesday, City of Middletown police were contacted by a witness who reported that there was a woman sitting on top of a man near 40 Grove Street, yelling for help. The witness told cops that woman told passerby that the man had just attempted to rob her, and she was detaining the suspect on the ground for police.

At the scene, police encountered the caller and a 57-year-old woman who identified herself as the store clerk from Ezzie's Corner Convenience Store. The clerk was holding a man on the ground in a driveway on Wickham Avenue. The clerk told police that the man had just committed a robbery of her business, threatening the use of a firearm.

When officers separated the parties and checked the robbery suspect, he was found to be unconscious and non-responsive. Officers immediately initiated life-saving measures, including CPR. Empress EMS responded and took the man to Garnet Health Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

The convenience store employee remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, according to police. Authorities said that preliminary information appears to corroborate the initial report that the suspect entered the convenience store and demanded money from the store clerk, threatening to shoot her if she did not comply.

The clerk provided the suspect with cash from the store register, and the suspect began to leave the store on foot, according to that initial investigation. The store clerk told police that she noticed that there was no visible weapon on the suspect's person, and began chasing him in an attempt to stop him from getting away.

The clerk was able to catch up to the man and grab hold of him, which caused them both to fall to the ground in the driveway.

The robbery victim then held the suspect on the ground and began yelling for help. This caught the attention of the witness, who came to the victim's aid and contacted 911. The victim continued holding onto the suspect until police arrived.

While being detained, the suspect fell unconscious for unknown reasons, police said, potentially due to a medical emergency.

The incident remains under investigation according to police. The identity of the suspect is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. City of Middletown Police Department detectives are reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses to gather additional information.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have relevant information is being encouraged to contact the Middletown Police Department at 845-343-3151.