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Attempted Robbery Suspect Arrested After Spraying 2 With Ether

GREEN TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A man was arrested after spraying two people with ether during an attempted convenience store robbery in Indiana County.

According to police, the incident happened at Betty Lou's Convenience Store in Green Township around 8:50 p.m. on Aug. 9.

In surveillance video you can see the suspect, Steven Klingensmith, 42, of Alverda, walk up to the counter and allegedly demand money from the cashier.

When the cashier refused, Klingensmith allegedly sprayed him in the face with a bottle of ether.

Surveillance video then show Klingensmith spray security guard Randy Thompson.

"I was concerned that it was an extreme hazard, because there's nothing more flammable in the store than ether," Thompson told KDKA's Trina Orlando.

At that time, Klingensmith left the store and got into his vehicle. However, Thompson pulled out a handgun and shot out the passenger side front tire of the vehicle.

"It wasn't frightening it was exacerbating, you work hard, and some boo boo walks in and thinks they're entitled to put someone's life in danger," Thompson said.

Klingensmith drove more than 20-miles on his blown out tire. State police say they were able to track him down by following the pieces of tire, and gouges in the pavement.

Klingensmith is being lodged in the Indiana County Jail, he admitted to the robbery.

After the robbery Thompson had this to say, "Just because we're out in the sticks, don't mean we're hicks."

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