The State College Police Department filed charges last week against a Philadelphia man in connection with the January robbery of Kranich’s Jewelers, 216 E. College Ave.
Rodger Williams, 41, of Philadelphia, is charged with three counts of robbery, one count of conspiracy, one count of prohibited possession of a firearm, two counts of theft by unlawful taking, two counts of receiving stolen property and three counts of recklessly endangering another person, according to court documents.
A total of $950,000 in jewelry and merchandise was stolen from the store on Jan. 9 by three men, according to a press release from the Centre County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the release, Williams removed items from the display case and made one employee give him his wallet, a gold Rolex watch, a diamond ring and a gold bracelet.
Williams was arrested on Jan. 28 after fleeing from another jewelry store robbery in Cary, N.C., according to a release by the State College Police Department.
The Cary Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department and the Philadelphia FBI Violent Crime Task Force assisted in the investigation, the State College Police Department said.
State College Police Department Lt. Mark Argiro said that as far as he knew, Williams was still being held in North Carolina.
Argiro said the timing of bringing Williams to Centre County to face the charges will probably depend on how the Centre County District Attorney’s office works with other agencies in North Carolina.
“Our community is not a soft target, and those who commit crimes of violence here will be held accountable,” District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said in the release from the District Attorney’s Office.
A preliminary hearing for Williams has not yet been scheduled, according to court documents.
