A Tyrone area man was arraigned on numerous charges stemming from a series of robberies in Tyrone and elsewhere in Blair County.
A formal arraignment for 37-year-old Robert E. Miller, Jr. of RD 2, Tyrone was held before District Judge Fred Miller on Wednesday afternoon. Judge Miller heard charges in eight separate cases including the robberies and an auto theft case.
Suspect Miller was arraigned in two other cases earlier this week. He was arraigned on Sunday in connection with a robbery at the Kwik Fill in Duncansville on that same day.
Earlier Wednesday, Miller was arraigned before District Judge Joseph Moran on charges stemming from a police chase that ended in Altoona shortly after the Duncansville robbery. Bail in the Duncansville robbery case was set at $15,000. Bail was set at $10,000 stemming from the charges involving the police pursuit in Altoona.
Miller was charged in connection with three robberies in Tyrone. The first happened on October 28 at the Choice Store on 10th Street. Miller also stands accused of robberies at the Uni-Mart on Adams Avenue early last Friday and a Saturday night robbery at the Kwik Fill on Washington Avenue. Tyrone Police also investigated another robbery at the Uni-Mart early Sunday morning, but have not made an arrest in that case.
Miller was charged in connection with three robberies and an attempted robbery in Altoona. Those crimes happened between Oct. 23 and Sunday morning.
State police also filed charges against Miller stemming from the theft of an automobile from Shauf’s Used Car Sales on old Route 220, just south of State Route 865 in Antis Township. The van was taken sometime between 8 p.m. on Saturday and 1:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Authorities allege that Miller used the van in the commission of some of the robberies and was driving the van when police pursued him. He eventually crashed the van and Altoona police pursued Miller on foot before he was captured early Sunday afternoon.
Miller was arrested and taken to Blair County Prison.
A court order from Blair County Judge Thomas Peoples Jr. sent all the cases to Judge Miller. The suspect was advised at his arraignment of his options for counsel. He indicated he wanted to have a public defender appointed for him. Judge Miller advised he could still seek private counsel even after requesting a public defender. Miller set bail in varying amounts in the eight cases that were detailed in the Wednesday afternoon arraignment. He explained that the other two cases were also being transferred to him. A preliminary hearing on all the charges against suspect Miller was set for Tuesday at 9 a.m. However, Judge Miller said that the hearing could be continued.
After his arraignment, Miller was transported back to Blair County Prison.
