Charges Filed in Attempted Robbery of Tiny Store

Canonsburg police charged a Westland man with attempted robbery of the Tiny Store after his mother came to the station on Friday and identified him as the culprit.

Michael McCarthy, 27, of 174 Dogwood St., Westland, was arraigned before district Judge David Mark on Friday. He was remanded to the Washington County Jail on $10,000 bond.

Police said his mother, Denise Wester, came into the station on Friday and told police that she believed the attempted robber was her son. According to court documents, she recognized her son's maroon hooded sweatshirt in surveillance footage of the attempted robber.

Canonsburg police released a photo of the suspect on Monday, and said the department received a call about a robbery in progress on the West Pike Street shop at 6:41 p.m. Friday, but when officers arrived, the McCarthy had fled on foot.

A female clerk said McCarthy walked in and attempted to buy a soda, but had no money to pay for it. He then left the store only to re-enter a few minutes later to buy cigarettes–again with no money to pay for them.

The clerk told police he then left a third time, saying that he was going out to his car to retrieve money—but added that there was no vehicle parked outside.

“The male then entered a third time, (and) had his hands pulled into this shirt sleeves and demanded money,” according to a police report.

The clerk, who told police she did not observe a weapon, initially refused, which made the suspect “more agitated,” police said.

That’s when another customer entered the store, and the McCarthy grabbed the soda from the counter and fled the store.

The Tiny Store, which is equipped with video surveillance, was able to capture the man on camera. McCarthy's mother recognized his sweatshirt, which was spattered with white paint, and adorned with white lettering over the left breast.

Police said McCarthy is also a suspect in two other incidents—including an attempted robbery that occurred on Hills-Henderson Road in North Strabane later on Friday evening.

Police in South Fayette told Canonsburg police that McCarthy is “likely the same individual” who robbed a 7-Eleven store there Saturday.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday before Mark.