Man accused in Shaler Township robbery crashes car trying to get away

SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man is being held in the Allegheny County jail, accused of robbing a Shaler Township convenience store, then crashing his car as he tried to get away.

William Holt, 54, is accused of walking into the Sunoco on Mt. Royal Boulevard around 8:30 p.m., indicating he had a gun, and stealing money and cigarettes, Shaler Township police said. Holt never showed the clerk a gun but pointed his hand from inside his hoodie pocket, police said.

The clerk told police that Holt was wearing a gray hoodie and drove away in a red car.

While police were responding to the robbery, emergency dispatchers were called about a crash on Mt. Royal Boulevard at Carlisle Drive. The crash was near the Sunoco station.

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Officers went to both locations and determined that the car involved in the crash was the same vehicle involved in the robbery.

A witness told police Holt tried to pass a vehicle which was in front of him, when Holt’s car “jumped the curb” and went into the grass. His car came back onto the roadway and hit the curb at the intersection with Carlisle Drive.

After the crash police say Holt tried to walk away from the scene, but they would caught up with him. A male passenger was also found in the the car, who police say it was not involved in the robbery and will not be charged.

Holt was taken into custody and is facing several charges including robbery, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.

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