Suspect released to veterans program
A Butler man will be released to a veterans inpatient drug and alcohol program after a hearing in Butler County Court on Tuesday.
Christian E. Snyder, 57, will be released to the VA Butler Healthcare domiciliary program after the hearing before Judge William Shaffer.
Snyder, who is currently being held in Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail after being charged with felony robbery, misdemeanor theft, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia regarding an incident at a convenience store on Nov. 14, is a “prime candidate for Veterans Court,” his attorney, Public Defender Joseph Smith said.
“In order to do that, he will need to be admitted to and complete the domiciliary program,” he said.
Shaffer granted the request that Snyder be admitted to the program when a bed is available and complete all requirements of that program.
Butler police filed the charges after they say he brandished a 4-to-5-inch kitchen knife while demanding money from a clerk at the A-Plus on West Jefferson Street.
Snyder walked into the store at about 11:30 p.m., with a covered face and sweat shirt hood over the head. Police said he told the clerk, “Give me all the money.”
The clerk, a 60-year-old man, opened the cash register and the robber took all or most of what was in the till — $5 and $1 bills.
Shortly afterward, a man matching the suspect's description was found walking in the area of West Penn Street and McKinley Avenue. When police approached the man, later identified as Snyder, and asked for identification, he threw an identification card belonging to a woman at the officer and ran away on McKinley Avenue before heading into a wooded area north of West Pearl Street, according to court documents.
Snyder was then arrested after an officer deployed his Taser, police said.
A search of Snyder, documents said, turned up a crack pipe and $88 in cash — believed to be some or all of the money taken in the robbery.
Police said security cameras captured Snyder going into and leaving the store at the time of the holdup. The footage also led police to the knife that Snyder had tried to hide in the area of Broad Street during his attempted getaway.
