Central Valley. Suspect charged after Woodbury Common armed robbery

On April 11, 2023, the Town of Woodbury Police Department was dispatched to the parking lot of Columbia Sportswear in the Woodbury Common for a reported armed robbery of an individual. Based on initial reports and the utilization of stationary license plate readers, Woodbury Police Communications was able to quickly identify a suspect vehicle that fled the scene.

According to police, responding officers observed the vehicle, occupied by two males, in the area of Route 32 and Smith Clove Road. Officers then observed two additional males run across the roadway and enter the vehicle after just committing a second robbery at Mechi’s Deli and Juice Bar in Central Valley. Upon the officer’s attempt to stop the vehicle, the suspects fled on foot into the surrounding woods.

During the search, Officers recovered a large sum of US Currency, determined to be the proceeds from the robberies, and the firearm that was displayed in the commission of the crimes. The suspect vehicle was also confirmed to be stolen from the Bronx earlier in the day.

One male was apprehended following a foot pursuit behind Central Valley Elementary School. The male, a juvenile, was arraigned as an adolescent offender in Orange County Court on the charges of robbery in the second-degree, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing, and petit larceny. He was released pending a later court date.

Town of Woodbury Police Department were assisted in the investigation by the New York State Police, Village of Harriman PD, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Chester PD, Town of Cornwall PD, Village of Washingtonville PD, Town of Blooming Grove PD, Town of Tuxedo PD, and Woodbury Fire Department.

As the investigation is ongoing, additional charges are possible, police said.