McKeesport, PA (PPP)— Following successfully robbing the McKeesport Family Dollar Store, earning an $85 windfall in the process, 26-year-old James Harrison was identified as the bandito using a photo lineup after he was spotted by a witness walking through the parking lot of a nearby funeral home.

Harrison later admitted to the caper, along with a similar crime days earlier at the same location in which he robbed the store of $60.

Name: James Harrison
Gender: Male
Age: 26

Agency: Allegheny County Police Department

Court (case #1): Magisterial District Court 05-2-13
Docket Number (case #1): MJ-05213-CR-0000105-2023
Date Filed (case #1): February 25, 2023

Bail (case #1): $50,000
Confinement (case #1): Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason (case #1): Unable to post bail

Criminal Charges (case #1)

1. Robbery – Threaten Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1
2. Robbery – Threaten Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1
3. Possession of weapon, Misdemeanor 1
4. Theft by unlawful taking – Moveable property, Misdemeanor 2

Court (case #2): Magisterial District Court 05-2-13
Docket Number (case #2): MJ-05213-CR-0000106-2023
Date Filed (case #2): February 25, 2023

Bail (case #2): $30,000
Confinement (case #2): Allegheny County Jail
Confinement Reason (case #2): Unable to post bail

Criminal Charges (case #2)

1. Robbery – Threaten Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1
2. Robbery – Threaten Immediate Serious Injury, Felony 1
3. Theft by unlawful taking – Moveable property, Misdemeanor 1
4. Possession of weapon, Misdemeanor 1

Affidavit of Probable Cause (MJ-05213-CR-0000105-2023)
Your affiants, Detective Jonathan King and Detective Michael Opferman have been law enforcement officers of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a combined period of greater than 20 years, and we are empowered to make arrests for criminal offenses there-in. All information contained in this affidavit was learned directly by the affiants or was communicated to them by other law enforcement officers, victims, witnesses, or law enforcement clinicians and technicians.

Your affiants are currently assigned to the Allegheny County Police Department’s General Investigations Unit. Your affiants have attended and completed training courses in reference to the investigation and prosecution of crimes as enumerated in the PACC, Title 18. These courses include Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Investigations, Advanced Crime Scene investigations, Sex Assault Investigations, and Child Abuse Investigations. As patrol officers and criminal investigators, your affiants have conducted investigations and participated in the prosecution of criminal acts within the jurisdiction of Allegheny County.

The identity of the victims and witness is known to and has been verified by your affiants or assisting law enforcement officers. In order to protect the anonymity of the victims and witness and preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, their names will be withheld from this affidavit, and they will be referred to hereinafter as, “Victim 1,” “Victim 2,” and “Witness 1”. The victims in this case are both female and the witness is male.

On Sunday February 19th, Officers from the Allegheny County Police Department responded to the McKeesport Family Dollar (130 Lysle Blvd, McKeesport, PA 15132) for a robbery a that occurred shortly before 7:35 PM that same day. Two Family Dollar employees, Victim 1 and Victim 2, were present during the robbery. Victim 2 was also present during a robbery that occurred at this same location a week prior. Allegheny County Police Officer Wilksmore and Detective Opferman interviewed Victim 1. Victim 1 indicated that at the time of the robbery, Victim 2 was standing at the register and Victim 1 was standing a few feet away from the cash register. According to Victim 1, a male wearing a black ski mask, gloves, and black clothing walked into the store. The male was holding a pistol. The male said, “You know the routine,” “Hurry up,” and, “Have a goodnight ladies.” The male took $85.00 from the cash register and fled the store.

On February 20th, Detectives Maloney and Kirksey spoke with Witness 1, the boyfriend of Victim 2. After the robbery on February 19th, Victim 2 called Witness 1 and asked him to come to the store. At approximately 7:45 PM, Witness 1 was walking on Market Street in McKeesport approximately 3 blocks from the Family Dollar. Witness 1 saw a white male wearing an orange hoodie through Striffler’s funeral home parking lot away from the direction of the Family Dollar (130 Lysle Blvd, McKeesport, PA 15132). Witness 1 was administered a photo array. During the array, Witness 1 identified James Harrison (███████) as the male he saw walking away from the Family Dollar on February 19th.

On February 24th, officers from the McKeesport Police Department arrested James Harrison (DOB ███████) regarding robberies committed in McKeesport, PA on January 17th, 2023 and in Munhall, PA on January 21st, 2023. Detective King interviewed James Harrison on this same date at the McKeesport Police Station. Prior to the start of the interview, Harrison was read Miranda Rights. During the interview, Harrison confessed that he had committed the robbery at the McKeesport Family Dollar on February 19th. Harrison said that he used a Daisy BB gun pump action pistol to commit the robbery. When Harrison entered the store, he saw two female employees inside the store. Harrison said that he saw one of those female employees working at the Family Dollar on the previous Sunday. Harrison said he took approximately $60 during this robbery. After fleeing the scene of the robbery, Harrison fled to his home on the 700 block of Coursin Street in McKeesport. Harrison said that he changed into an orange sweatshirt while fleeing from the Family Dollar.

Based on the above facts and circumstances, your affiant believes there exists probable cause for the issuance of an arrest warrant.