Staff report
news@wbcowqel.com
The Bucyrus Police Department once again utilized the tool of social media in apprehending a suspect.
At 5:11 p.m. Bucyrus police officers investigated an armed robbery of the Check Into Cash on Stetzer Road. Moments later Bucyrus police posted a photo from security camera footage from the store onto their Facebook page seeking help in identifying the individual allegedly committing the crime.
Investigating leads through tips sent into the department the suspect was tracked down to a hotel in Tiffin. Through cooperation between the Tiffin Police Department and Bucyrus Police Department the suspect was taken into custody.
The suspect was found to allegedly have a few pieces of evidence including a BB gun allegedly used in the robbery.
While being interviewed the suspect confessed to the armed robbery, as well as the robbery that took place at the Galion Check Into Cash on Harding Way East on December 15.
Charges will be filed pending proper review from the County Prosecutor’s Office.
Press release from the Bucyrus Police Department
On December 28, 2016 at 5:11 p.m. officers with the Bucyrus Police Department were dispatched to Check into Cash, 149 Stetzer Rd., Bucyrus, Ohio in reference to a robbery that had just occurred.
The caller described the male suspect as being a heavy set white male 50-60 years of age, wearing a grey in color hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, black in color t-shirt with an orange design on front over the sweatshirt, brown in color pajama pants with diamond designs on them and having a pistol. The male suspect showed the pistol to the clerk and demanded money to which the clerk complied. The male suspect showed a pistol to the clerk and demanded money, to which the clerk complied. The male suspect then left the business walking Eastbound through the parking lot. Officers with the Bucyrus Police Department and Crawford County Sheriff’s Office checked the area, but was unable to locate the suspect.
Once the security camera footage was received by the Bucyrus Police Department a still image was placed onto their social media. The department received numerous calls from individuals throughout the area who identified the male suspect from the still image. The Bucyrus Police Department then confirmed the male suspect’s identity by using images from BMV OHleg.
The Bucyrus Police Department also received information that the male suspect was currently attempting to hide from Law Enforcement in the Tiffin, Ohio area. Tiffin Police Department was advised of this information and provided with possible vehicle information that the male could be driving. Tiffin Police was further advised that we were currently in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant for the male suspect.
An arrest warrant for Mark A. Morgan, 54, was completed by the Crawford County Prosecutor’s Office and then issued by Crawford County Municipal Court Judge Shane Leuthold.
Mark Morgan was taken into Custody at the Days Inn on the corner of St. Rt. 53 and St. Rt. 244 Tiffin, Ohio by the Tiffin Police Department at that location.
During the course of the robbery investigation it was noted by officers that the details of this robbery and the one that occurred at the Check into Cash, 703 Harding Way East, Galion, Ohio were similar and could be related. Galion Police Department was advised.
Mark Morgan was interviewed by the Bucyrus Police and Galion Police. Morgan admitted to being involved in both robberies. Morgan is currently being held at the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
The Bucyrus Police Department and the Galion Police Department would like to thank the community for their help in solving these crimes. Also thank the Tiffin Police Department for their assistance. Working together with the community and all surrounding law enforcement agencies we make our communities safer.