A Schuylkill County man has been sent to jail accused of twice robbing a store of energy drinks.
State Police say they were first called to the Family Dollar in Shenandoah on Nov. 9 for a report of a retail theft.
A store employee reportedly told police that he was working that day when a tall, thin, black male walked in wearing a camo mask and tan, Army-style boots. The employee said he told this man that he was no longer permitted in the store because he was suspected of stealing in the past.
The employee said he followed the man to the cooler area of the store and watched him take two Monster Java energy drinks. An argument ensued and that’s when the man – later identified as Rubel Cruz, 28, of Shenandoah – allegedly pulled down his mask and said he wasn’t going to pay for the Monsters, that he was in the military, and that he was going to kick the employee’s rear end.
Because the employee said he’d been seriously injured from a previous assault, he was in fear of being hurt again.
On Nov. 18, another employee at the same Family Dollar reported to police that Cruz – again wearing the camo mask and tan, Army-style boots – came into the store and once again helped himself to two Monster Java drinks.
Just a few minutes later, police say they interviewed Cruz at the Shenandoah Police station. He allegedly admitted to being at the Family Dollar on Nov. 9 and that he did take two Monster Java drinks, and did engage in a verbal argument with an employee that day.
When police interviewed Cruz, he was reportedly wearing a camo bask and tan boots.
Charges have been filed against Cruz for both incidents. For the most recent alleged theft, he’s facing defiant trespass and retail theft charges.
From the incident earlier this month, police have charged Cruz with felony robbery as well as a misdemeanor count of defiant trespass and summary counts of harassment and retail theft.
He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, who set bail at 10% of $10,000 and remanded Cruz to Schuylkill County Prison.
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