December 30th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Police, the West Virginia State Police, and the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I) are investigating a series of armed robberies which occurred over night, two in West Virginia and two in Cumberland.

 

            At 2:35 AM Friday morning, 12/29/2017, the Cumberland Police responded to a reported armed robbery at the Circle K on Oldtown Road. A lone suspect had entered the store, approached the counter, produced a handgun, and demanded money from an employee. The employee complied, and gave the suspect an undisclosed sum of cash. The suspect then fled the store on foot.

 

            The suspect was described as a white male, 5-08 to 5-10 in height, with a stocky build. He was wearing a black colored coat or sweatshirt, dark colored pants, and gloves. The suspect had his hood pulled up, his face covered, and was wearing sunglasses to conceal his identity.

 

            A search of the area was conducted at that time by the Cumberland Police, with the assistance of allied agencies, including the Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 5. The suspect was not located at that time.

 

            At 5:26 AM the Cumberland Police responded to another reported armed robbery at the 7-11 on Maryland Avenue. A lone suspect had entered the store, approached the counter, produced a hand gun, and demanded money from an employee. The employee complied, and gave the suspect an undisclosed sum of cash. The suspect then fled the store on foot.

 

            The suspect was described as a white male, 5-10 to 6-00 in height, with a stocky build. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants, a yellow toboggan, and gloves. The suspect had his hood pulled up, his face covered with a camouflage scarf or cloth, and was wearing sunglasses to conceal his identity.

 

            A search of the area was conducted at that time by the Cumberland Police, with the assistance of allied agencies, but the suspect was not located at that time.

 

            In addition to the robberies which occurred in Cumberland, there was a reported armed robbery at the Mountaineer Mart in Short Gap, West Virginia on Thursday evening, 12/28/2017. That case is currently being investigated by the West Virginia State Police.

 

            Then, at approximately 9:00 AM Friday morning, another armed robbery was reported at the Puff & Stuff in Ridgeley, West Virginia. That case is also currently under investigation by the West Virginia State Police.

 

            A joint investigation conducted by the Cumberland Police, the West Virginia State Police, and C3I, that included the review of surveillance video and numerous interviews, led to a possible suspect vehicle and possible suspects.

 

            Based on this information, Investigators obtained a search warrant for a private residence on Brookfield Avenue in Cumberland. Investigators recovered clothing, the gun believed used by the suspect, and additional evidence linking the suspects to the robberies during the search.

 

            As a result, Investigators arrested and charged the following individuals:

 

Christopher Alan Platter, 32 years of age, from Cumberland

 

Angela Michelle Barb, 39 years of age, from Cumberland

 

Sandra Annette Degrange, 53 years of age, from Sabillasville, MD

 

            All three have been charged with Armed Robbery, Robbery, and Theft in connection with the robberies at Circle K and 7-11. West Virginia authorities are in the process of obtaining arrest warrants for the cases at Mountaineer Mart and Puff & Stuff.

 

            In addition to the charges he is facing for the robberies which occurred over night in Maryland, Platter is also being charged with Robbery, Armed Robbery, and Theft in connection with the home invasion robbery which occurred on Wednesday evening, 12/27/2017, at a private residence on Lincoln Street in Cumberland.

 

            Platter, Barb, and Degrange are currently awaiting an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner.

 

            Authorities also continue to investigate the robbery which occurred at the Dollar General store in Corriganville which occurred on Wednesday evening, 12/27/2017. In that case a lone suspect entered the store, produced a handgun, and demanded cash from an employee. After receiving an undisclosed sum of cash, the suspect fled the store on foot.

 

 

            Anyone with information about the Dollar General case, or any of the other cases is asked to call the Cumberland Police at 301-777-1600, the West Virginia State Police at 304-788-1101, or the C3I Unit at 301-777-0326. If callers wish to remain anonymous, they can call the Allegany/Mineral County Crime Solvers at 301-722-4300, where callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1500.00 for information leading to an arrest in this case.

            The investigation is continuing by the Cumberland Police, the West Virginia State Police, and C3I.