Suspect Charged in Wellsville Rite Aid Robbery

The following is a Wellsville Police Department press release.

At approximately 12:50 P.M. on July 1, 2010 Wellsville Police responded to the Rite Aid Pharmacy for an alleged robbery in progress.  Investigation revealed that a male subject had entered the store and grabbed a store employee.  He allegedly threatened that he had a weapon and demanded the pharmacy personnel give him drugs.  No reported injuries were sustained and the suspect fled the store.

Wellsville Police Officers and members of the NY State Police quickly responded and secured the scene and began to conducted interviews of potential witnesses.  Based on excellent information provided by witnesses, police were able to direct the investigation toward a potential suspect.

At approximately 2:45 P.M. police were able to take the suspect into custody at 11½ Martin Street in the Village of Wellsville.  Subsequent to that arrest, police charged Aaron L. Heale, DOB: 02/18/1981 (no address available at this time) with one count of Robbery in the First Degree, a class B, Felony and Petit Larceny, a class A, Misdemeanor.  He is being held pending arraignment later this evening.  The investigation is continuing.

Chief Steven L. Mattison commended the NY State Police, a deputy from the Allegany County Sheriff’s Department, the Assistant District Attorney Keith Slep and members of the Wellsville Police Department for their efforts and quick response to this incident.  He would like to thank the many witnesses who provided excellent descriptions and accounts of the events in this investigation which culminated in the apprehension of the suspect.