One of the two men wanted by the Pennsylvania State Police in connection with an alleged armed robbery in Schuylkill County is now in custody.
Court records show Paul Gregory Laurusevage, 40, of Mahanoy City, was taken into custody on Aug. 4 and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel. Laurusevage is being held at Schuylkill County Prison after being unable to post $300,000 monetary bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 12 at 11:00 a.m.
Laurusevage is charged with robbery, unlawful restraint, persons not to possess firearms, theft by unlawful taking, simple assault, two counts of terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, and possession of an instrument of crime in connection with an alleged armed robbery that occurred on July 31 in West Mahanoy Township.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, Laurusevage and Jayson Garcia, 42, of Tower City, allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint after luring him to a residence in Girardville. Investigators allege the victim was forced into a vehicle, taken to an ATM in Ashland to withdraw money, and later forced to surrender $3,000 from his residence before being threatened with death if he failed to provide an additional $5,000 the following day.
State police also allege surveillance footage from the Ashland Food Mart and Ring doorbell video from the victim's residence corroborated portions of the victim's account. Kimberly Fabian later identified the masked suspect known as "Squirrel" as Laurusevage, according to the affidavit.
Garcia remains wanted on the same charges. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville.