MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A former employee who had recently been fired has been arrested in the armed robbery of a Martinsburg business.
Berkeley County Sheriff Nathan Harmon tells the Panhandle News Network an armed robbery occurred December 18th at the business, called Jakki’s, at 157 Warm Spring Avenue in Martinsburg.
A man had fled the business with an undisclosed amount of money. Deputies say he demanded the money while holding a knife.
Investigators reviewed video footage and learned the suspect had fled the scene in a red SUV. They reviewed footage from school buses in the area to further determine the make and model of that vehicle.
They tied the red Ford Explorer to a former employee, Gary Alan Prieb, who had recently been fired.
Police obtained a warrant on a separate offense, failure to register as a sex offender 2nd offense. Prieb was arrested January 13th in Leesburg on that warrant. A subsequent search of his vehicle and a hotel room in Jefferson County uncovered evidence they say tie Prieb to the armed robbery.
He was last reportedly being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center awaiting extradition.
Suspects are considered innocent under the law until proven otherwise.