Police arrest suspect in grocery store robbery

POTTSTOWN >> Police arrested a man Tuesday after he allegedly robbed a convenience store after attempting to use counterfeit money.

Hassan Rothenberger, 28, of Pottstown has been charged after police were called to the 400 block of High Street Tuesday night.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Pottstown Police responded to Blue Moon Deli and Grocery Shop for a report of a theft in which the suspect struck the victim.

The victim told police that the suspect, later identified as Rothenberger, had come into the store and attempted to use a counterfeit $5 bill. Two then got into an argument and at one point the victim tore the bill in half handing one half back to the suspect and placing the other half on the register. The victim said at that time the suspect tried to take the other half off the register and that he grabbed the suspect, who then struck the victim in the head and fled out the door.

Surveillance footage from the scene was consistent with the victim’s story and also showed a small black bag falling out of the suspect’s coat and onto the counter, according to authorities. At the scene, police recovered the bag which contained what they believed to be K2 synthetic marijuana.

Rothenberger was apprehended on the 900 block of East High Street.

Police said once Rothenberger was detained, he admitted to being involved in the incident. Officers found him in possession of a torn $5 bill as well as another bag of suspected K2, consistent with what was found at the scene, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Police said Wednesday that there is nothing to suggest that this robbery was related to several others that occurred in the borough over the last month. In those cases, police said they were looking to identify suspects they believed played a part in all four armed robberies.

Rothenberger is being charged with robbery, forgery, intent to possess a controlled substance, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, theft, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Rothenberger is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 13 before District Judge Andrea Hudak Duffy. He was unable to post the set $25,000 cash bail and is being held at Montgomery County Correctional Facility.