Davagator
01-21-2005, 05:39 PM
After an hour and a half of driving around Poulsbo, Washington, Jared Persitz and Matthew Barela decided that they were lost and stopped at a Chevron service station to get directions.
Police are still not sure why two men failed to recognize that they had stopped at the same gas station they had allegedly attempted to rob earlier in the evening.
According to Poulsbo Police Sgt. Bill Playther, Persitz and Barela, both 22, were visiting from Vancouver and targeted the gas station December 25 when they decided that they needed money. Persitz allegedly walked up to a female clerk with a knife and demanded money. Undaunted by Persitz's threat, another clerk grabbed a nearby phone and started to call police.
Persitz attempted to cut the phone cord, Playther said. But the clerk moved the phone out of his reach. The would-be robber then ransacked the merchandise on the counter and left the store empty-handed. Police were unable to locate the men immediately after the incident because of an inadequate vehicle description.
However, Persitz and Barela returned to the gas station 90 minutes later to ask for directions. Persitz reportedly showed no indication that he recognized the gas station or the clerks, but the clerks remembered him and took down a detailed description of his vehicle for police.
The two men were arrested after a high-speed chase and also admitted to robbing a Blockbuster video store the night before.
Persitz pleaded guilty to two counts of felony robbery and burglary. He will be sentenced January 24.
Police are still not sure why two men failed to recognize that they had stopped at the same gas station they had allegedly attempted to rob earlier in the evening.
According to Poulsbo Police Sgt. Bill Playther, Persitz and Barela, both 22, were visiting from Vancouver and targeted the gas station December 25 when they decided that they needed money. Persitz allegedly walked up to a female clerk with a knife and demanded money. Undaunted by Persitz's threat, another clerk grabbed a nearby phone and started to call police.
Persitz attempted to cut the phone cord, Playther said. But the clerk moved the phone out of his reach. The would-be robber then ransacked the merchandise on the counter and left the store empty-handed. Police were unable to locate the men immediately after the incident because of an inadequate vehicle description.
However, Persitz and Barela returned to the gas station 90 minutes later to ask for directions. Persitz reportedly showed no indication that he recognized the gas station or the clerks, but the clerks remembered him and took down a detailed description of his vehicle for police.
The two men were arrested after a high-speed chase and also admitted to robbing a Blockbuster video store the night before.
Persitz pleaded guilty to two counts of felony robbery and burglary. He will be sentenced January 24.