ARMED ROBBERS CAUGHT IN CLAY COUNTY - Ritchie Has Stick-Up For Drugs

(11/09/2004)
Cash must have been in short supply this week, with two hold-ups in the region.

An Elkview couple have been arraigned in Clay County after they held up two convenience stores near Elkview.

Police chased the couple from Elkview into Clay County, where they abandoned their car and fled into the woods near Queen Shoals, where they were apprehended.

Robert Lee Light, 26, entered Maynor's Market about 11:30 p.m. Sunday and attempted to rob the store. The clerk reportedly told the robber she did not have access to the cash box, after which Light fled the store.

Light then allegedly held up the Little General Store at the Crossings Mall, where he obtained about $800 in cash.

The get-away-car was reportedly driven by Light's girlfriend, 24-year-old Jennifer Wheeler.

Police said they found the stolen money inside the vehicle.

Both were charged with two counts of armed robbery and were being held at South Central Regional Jail. They were also charged with fleeing.

A Ritchie County man identified as Tim Burch, 22, of Ellenboro allegedly entered a Rite-Aid Pharmacy in Harrisville with a shotgun Monday and demanded the pharmacist give him drugs or he would shoot everyone in the store.

Burch then led police on a pursuit to his residence, where he refused to come out for several hours.

Burch reportedly threatened to harm himself.

State Police reportedly used tear gas prior to entering the dwelling.

Burch was taken to a Parkersburg after he apparently used the drugs taken in the holdup, where he is listed in critical condition.