Robert Riddle, 35, fled the parking lot on foot after the woman screamed as he attempted a carjacking, police said. A two-hour manhunt ended when Riddle was found inside his trailer.
Police said that after running from the parking lot, Riddle allegedly broke into a building on a nearby property, resulting in the breaking and entering charge.
He waived a grand jury’s consideration of allegations against him and pleaded guilty in Miami County Common Pleas Court. Visiting Judge Timothy Campbell, appointed to hear the case because the victim is related to a court employee, accepted the plea and set sentencing for Oct. 22.
Riddle remains jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.
UPDATE @ 9:35 a.m. (Sept. 1)
Robert Riddle pleaded not guilty to aggravated robbery and breaking and entering charges during a video arraignment this morning in Miami County Municipal Court.
The judge set bond at $70,000 cash.
UPDATE @ 11 p.m.
A robbery suspect committed another felony crime tonight while he was on the run from law enforcement during a massive air and ground search, Piqua Police Chief Bruce Jamison said.
Robert C. Riddle, 35, is now in the Miami County Jail after officers found him inside his trailer shortly after a two-hour search was called off, the chief said.
Police launched a manhunt after they said Riddle pulled a gun when he tried to carjack a 67-year-old woman late this afternoon in the parking lot at Walmart, 1300 E. Ash St.
“The victim yelled and screamed like she should have and garnered attention and some Good Samaritans ran to her aid,” Jamison said.
When his attempt backfired, Riddle ran across the parking lot, into a grassy area behind the store and then scaled a fence to get into a wooded area and into the property of the Willowbrook Hunting Club, where Jamison said he broke into one of the club’s buildings before making his way back home.
Piqua police enlisted the help of the Miami County Sheriff’s Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol, which deployed a helicopter to scan the area from above as they looked for Riddle.
Jamison said they started a massive search because of the seriousness of the crime that involved a deadly weapon.
“We took up a lot of resources that were out on the street already … because we consider this very serious,” the chief said. “We like whenever somebody is using a gun to scare people or try to commit crimes, we like to get them and their gun off the street just as quickly as we can.”
Police, deputies and troopers on the ground blocked off a large area as they searched, and warned residents to stay indoors.
“My daughter, they told her, next to Snyder Road, to stay in the house, don’t go out. And they told her that twice today,” said Martin Snow of Piqua.
During the search, police suspected Riddle because he matched the victim’s description of him. They canceled the search after about two hours because they believed he was gone from that area. However, within a half hour, neighbors called police to report that Riddle was inside his trailer. He was taken into custody without incident at the Paris Court Mobile Home Park, 10220 N. County Road 25-A in Springcreek Twp., just north of Piqua.
Jamison said Riddle has a criminal history, and that he has a heroin addiction.
“Whenever we see them getting to this point of violence to try to get money or whatever it is that they’re seeking, they rise to the top of our list,” Jamison said.
He was booked into the Miami County Jail on suspicion of aggravated robbery and breaking and entering, both felonies, and is awaiting arraignment on the charges, online jail records show.
UPDATE @ 7:10 p.m.
A robbery suspect committed another felony crime tonight while he was on the run from law enforcement during a massive air and ground search.
Robert C. Riddle, 35, is in custody after he was arrested shortly after a massive manhunt ended. He is the suspect who allegedly used a gun in an attempted carjacking at the Piqua Walmart parking lot, police said.
UPDATE @ 6:40 p.m.
An air and ground search was called off tonight for a gunman wanted for a an attempted carjacking and robbery in Piqua.
FIRST REPORT (August 29)
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has launched its helicopter to assist in the search of an armed man who pulled a gun in an attempted carjacking in Piqua.
The suspect was last seen heading into the woods behind Walmart and onto the property of the Willowbrook Hunting Club, according to Lt. Dave Thomas of the Piqua Police Department.
OSHP launched its helicopter as deputies set up a perimeter around the wooded area.
We’re working to learn more about what happened, but early reports indicated before the suspect tried to steal a car from a woman in the Walmart parking lot, he tried to rob the store.
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