Three arrested after armed robbery in Summersville

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — Three individuals were arrested Monday night after allegedly robbing a store and leading police on a chase in Nicholas County.

Philip Anthony Ruiz, 24; Brandon Lake, 24; and Andrew John Baily, 22; all from Lockport, New York, were apprehended by the Summersville Police Department after officers identified their vehicle as similar to one that fled the scene of the alleged crime.

Reports indicate that one of the men –believed at this time to be Ruiz– walked into the rue21 located in Merchants Walk Plaza at approximately 7:40 p.m. wearing a mask and rubber gloves to conceal his identity. The suspect then allegedly threatened an employee with a semi-automatic handgun and demanded money.

The three individuals fled the scene after securing around $360 dollars in cash.

Once identified, officers from the Summersville Police Department, State Police and Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department pursued the vehicle south on U.S. 19. The suspects slowed down once before later pulling over, allegedly to throw a gun out of the car’s window.

A search of the vehicle located the money and the items Ruiz allegedly wore during the crime, along with another gun.

All three are charged with Armed Robbery and are being held in the Central Regional Jail on $250,000 bail.

An additional charge Ruiz could face is being a felon unlawfully in possession of a firearm.

According to the Lockport Union-Sun and Journal, Ruiz faced the same charge in 2014 after law enforcement officers in Lockport executed a search warrant on a vehicle they believe was used in two bank robberies on July 29, 2014 and August 19, 2014. During the search, they found a pump action shotgun. The vehicle belonged to the Ruiz’s girlfriend but was parked at Ruiz’s residence.

A following investigation determined the Ruiz was on probation following a 2010 conviction for Attempted Burglary in the third degree, preventing him from possession a firearm.

Cheif Nowak said he was attempting to contact the appropriate probation officer Tuesday afternoon.