SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP -- Police in Luzerne County say they have the man responsible for a string of robberies at the same Turkey Hill near Hazleton.
Sugarloaf Township Police arrested John Brogan of Hazleton Tuesday evening, but police say he didn't go easy.
Brogan literally had to be carried into his arraignment as he resisted officers' attempt to escort him inside.
Brogan is accused of robbing the Turkey Hill on Airport Road near Hazleton around 11 a.m. Tuesday and then leading state police on a chase after they responded.
Troopers took Brogan into custody when the chase ended in Hazleton.
Brogan was arraigned on numerous charges including theft and robbery.
The Sugarloaf Township police chief says that Turkey Hill has been robbed nine times in the last 10 months, and while Brogan is only charged with Tuesday morning's robbery, the chief believes he's responsible for the others.
“I feel more than confident he's the one responsible for the last at least four or five,” said Chief Joshua Winters. “Today, especially we had some money there that was prerecorded. We recovered that after a search warrant from his vehicle.”
The police chief says those other robberies are still under investigation and he believes Brogan will be charged with those.
Customers at the Turkey Hill are glad to hear an arrest was made.
“There's a lot of crazy people out here, and you don't want anybody to get hurt,” said Rock Waranegris of Hazleton.
“I think that many times, something's got to be done to nip it in the bud,” said Phil Guza from Drums.
Before his arraignment, Brogan was taken to a hospital for a medical issue. Once there, police say he tried to escape officers and when leaving the hospital, he kicked an officer in the face. For that, he faces a charge of aggravated assault.
Because Brogan tried to escape, the judge set his bail at $750,000 to be paid in full.
Brogan is set to be back in court next week.
