Two Schuylkill County men wanted in connection with a July 31 armed robbery and extortion plot have been taken into custody.
Paul “Squirrel” Laurusevage, 40, of Mahanoy City, was captured Tuesday and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel, who set bail at $300,000.
Jayson “Jay” Garcia, 42, of Tower City, was apprehended Wednesday and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James Lenker in Dauphin County, with bail set at $200,000.
Both men are now incarcerated at Schuylkill County Prison. Preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli have been scheduled for Aug. 12 for Laurusevage and Aug. 19 for Garcia.
The arrests stem from an investigation by State Police-Frackville into an alleged armed robbery that began on the evening of July 31. According to police affidavits, the victim reported meeting Garcia at a home in Girardville, where Garcia ordered him to sit before Laurusevage, who was wearing a mask covering everything except his eyes, entered the room. Police say both men pointed handguns at the victim and demanded money.
When the victim said he had no cash, Garcia allegedly ordered him into a brown Dodge Dakota and drove him to the Ashland Food Mart to attempt an ATM withdrawal. During the drive, Laurusevage allegedly sat directly behind the victim and pressed the muzzle of a firearm into the back of his neck. Police say the ATM transaction failed because the victim’s card was locked, prompting Garcia to order the victim back to the vehicle and instruct him to call his wife to gather all available cash.
The victim directed his wife to hand the money to a friend who was at the house. Between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., the suspects pulled up to the victim’s home, where the friend handed Garcia $3,000 in cash, according to police. Garcia then allegedly drove the victim back to Girardville and ordered him to deliver an additional $5,000 the following day at a park in Mahanoy City. When the victim did not pay, Garcia called and threatened to shoot him, leading the victim to report the robbery and threats to law enforcement.
State Police later retrieved surveillance video from the Ashland Food Mart showing Garcia standing beside the victim at the ATM, as well as Ring doorbell footage from the victim’s residence depicting a brown Dodge Dakota pulling up and Garcia receiving cash outside.
Warrants were issued for both men after troopers searched their last known addresses and a local motel where the suspects had checked out earlier that day.
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