CLENDENIN, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A man has been arrested after facilitating the armed robbery of a 7-11 store before leading authorities on a high-speed vehicle pursuit.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at around 10:45pm, Deputies with the department were dispatched to an armed robbery at the Spencer Road 7-11 in Clendenin.
The incident was reported to 911 operators by the store clerk who advised that the suspect robbed the store with what appeared to be a 12-gauge shotgun, taking the money in the cash drawer which is still being audited by store management. The suspect is said to have then fled the scene in a dark colored pickup truck.
Deputies responding encountered the vehicle travelling south on Elk River Road toward Charleston. The suspect, later identified as Aaron J. Urban – 38-years-old of Clendenin – failed to stop for Deputies when they attempted to conduct a traffic stop. A pursuit then ensued.
Urban continued to travel south before getting on Interstate 79 at Mink Shoals where he continued toward Charleston.
At this point, Deputies deployed tire spikes at Westmoreland Road and once more at the I-77/I-64 split. The tires on Urban’s vehicle were successfully spiked, with at least three being deflated. Urban exited the interstate at Washington Street W. where he came into heavily congested traffic due to large public presence for the event at the Charleston Coliseum.
Continuing south on Pennsylvania Avenue in a reckless manner, Urban nearly struck multiple vehicles, eventually coming to a stop at Kanawha Boulevard where he surrendered to Deputies.
Investigating Deputy Corporal C.D. Lyons reports that Mr. Urban’s 15-year-old daughter was inside the vehicle during the robbery and subsequent pursuit. The juvenile female was released to other family members and was not injured during the events. A firearm was recovered from Urban’s vehicle, along with an unspecified amount of cash.
Urban has been arrested for one felony count of first-degree robbery as a result of the incident, which if convicted carries a sentence of no less than ten years. Urban has also been charged with one felony count of fleeing with reckless indifference to the safety of others, which if convicted carries a sentence of up to five years and fines up to $2,000. He is currently being held at South Central Regional Jail and is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday morning.
The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Section will continue the investigation, and additional charges are reportedly expected to emerge.
“The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office would like to give special thanks to the Charleston Police Department and Metro 911 Communications, who assisted during the pursuit,” read a statement from the department. “The communication and teamwork between each of these agencies is an invaluable asset which ultimately kept our unsuspecting citizens and visitors safe.”
No 7-11 employees were injured during the incident and the store has been re-opened after closing temporarily as the investigation took place. Authorities report that this is believed to be an isolated incident which poses no additional threat to the community.
Additional LOOTPRESS crime coverage can be found here.
