Brockway Couple Charged for Armed Robberies, Jewelry Thefts

DUBOIS – A Brockway couple has been charged for a spree of armed robberies and jewelry thefts in DuBois City, Sandy Township and Brookville Borough, police officials announced at a news conference Friday in the DuBois City Chambers.

The suspects were identified as Kevin Alan Bundy, 22, and Michele A. Garvey, 24, both of Woodbury Road, Brockway. Bundy and Garvey are facing numerous charges in both Clearfield and Jefferson counties.

On Jan. 18, Officer Randy Young of the DuBois City police filed a criminal complaint, charging Bundy and Garvey with the armed robberies at S&T Bank on Dec. 31, 2012 and Jan. 4, 2013. The couple has been charged with robbery, terroristic threats, receiving stolen property, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal conspiracy and criminal attempt.

According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 31, 2012, police were dispatched to an armed robbery at the S&T Bank on Scribner Avenue. Upon arrival police observed three female bank employees who were inside with the doors locked. Police signaled for them to unlock the doors at which point they reported being robbed at gunpoint. They told police that the suspect pointed a black handgun at them and demanded cash.

On Jan. 4, 2013, police were dispatched to a second armed robbery at S&T Bank on Scribner Avenue.  Upon arrival police observed female employees who were crying inside the bank. Police signaled for them to unlock the bank doors at which point they reported being robbed by the same suspect. In addition, they reported that the suspect appeared to be brandishing the same handgun; however, he fled when offered “bait money.”

Chief Mike DiLullo of DuBois City police said the DuBois City, Sandy Township and Brookville police departments worked together to identify Bundy and Garvey. He said DuBois City police received a tip about the identity of the male suspect after the department released surveillance photos from the bank robberies.  Police subsequently conducted interviews, which resulted in the charges being filed against Bundy and Garvey.

On Jan. 18, 2013, Sgt. Rodney Fairman of the Sandy Township police filed a criminal complaint, charging Bundy and Garvey for the armed robbery Jan. 4, 2013 at the Cash-4-Gold Store located in the Sandy Plaza. The couple has been charged with robbery, terroristic threats, theft by unlawful taking, simple assault and criminal conspiracy.

According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 4, 2013, police were dispatched to an armed robbery in progress at the Cash-4-Gold Store. Upon police arrival, a female employee reported that a male entered the store, pointed a handgun at her and demanded she turn over the store’s money. She provided the male with the money, and he directed her to get on the floor. The male fled the store on foot.

On Jan. 11, Fairman said police were dispatched to the Gold Buyers in the DuBois Mall, where an employee reported possible stolen jewelry. He said two suspects had attempted to sell jewelry to the store. Fairman said the suspects sold 21 rings valued between $8,000 and $10,000 to the Gold Buyers, and the suspects were identified by store employees before the transaction.

Approximately 20 minutes later, Fairman said police responded to Your Jewelry Box located in the DuBois Plaza. He said six gold rings and a watch had been stolen from the store. He said a short time later, Brookville Borough police contacted them to report thefts from Tonnell’s Jewelry Store, and they used surveillance footage to identify the suspects as Bundy and Garvey.  He said Tonnell’s Jewelry Store recovered the six rings that the suspects had previously stolen from Your Jewelry Box in DuBois.

On Jan. 12, 2013, Fairman said police responded to the Gold Buyers in the DuBois Mall. He said store employees reported that Bundy and Garvey were in the store. When police arrived at the scene, he said Garvey was taken into custody. However, Bundy fled the scene prior to police arrival.

He said that police seized 12 items of drug paraphernalia from Garvey. At that time, she was arrested and charged with theft and drug-related offenses. He said she was subsequently incarcerated on a probation violation.

On Jan. 15, Fairman said police received information that Bundy and Garvey could possibly be responsible for the Jan. 4 armed robbery at the Cash-4-Gold Store. On Jan. 16, Bundy was interviewed by police at the Jefferson County Jail, which resulted in charges being filed against him and Garvey.

On their end, Chief Ken Dworek of Brookville Borough police said they had assistance from the Jefferson County Probation Office and Brockway police in arresting Bundy after the thefts and armed robberies occurred. He said the police agencies – DuBois City, Sandy Township and Brookville – became one team and cooperated, which for him, resembled a “regional” police department without actually having one.

“That was the main reason this case was solved,” said Dworek. “The phone was ringing both ways. It was an example of an old saying, ‘It doesn’t matter who gets the credit so long as the bad guys go to jail.’ And, that’s where the bad guys are now.”

Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. said he was also pleased with the cooperative, investigative efforts of the police agencies involved. He said everyone has thin budgets and manpower, and it seems like there are more criminals than police departments. He said this case reflected that when police agencies work together and cooperate, the criminals don’t have a chance.

“We want the community to feel comfortable that we can work together as a team to solve these kinds of crimes,” he said. “This is one of the more serious events that happen in our area, and people are concerned with people running around loose with guns.

“I can tell you that countless hours were put into this case, and it was an intensive investigation on the part of a lot of people working together.”

Bundy and Garvey are currently incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail, where they are awaiting their arraignment through the district court. Their preliminary hearing date has not been set, said Shaw.

He said with an armed robbery, Bundy and Garvey are facing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of incarceration without eligibility for parole, work release, etc. However, he said they could face up to a maximum sentence of 20 years.

“If you take into account the multiple robberies, those numbers add up real quick,” said Shaw. “I think we have a comprehensive investigation with all the facts and evidence to pursue strict punishment.

“I want people to know that armed robberies are not going to be tolerated in this community. It’s not going to become the new wave of crime. Police are going to respond quickly to solve these, and we are going to pursue the toughest penalties that we can. These rascals think that they’re going to go out and do this kind of stuff, but it’s not going to happen around here.”

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