Police: Man Arrested After Standoff In Mt. Oliver Now Connected To Multiple Recent Robberies
MT. OLIVER, Pa. (KDKA) - Police say an armed robbery suspect that had a standoff with multiple law enforcement officers in Mt. Oliver is connected to recent robberies in the area.
Pittsburgh Police say they responded to a report of an armed robbery on the 100 block of Beechview Avenue just before noon on Wednesday. Police say a man tried to rob Dollar Eagle Discounts, allegedly flashing a weapon.
The suspect ran, but police were able to track him to the borough of Mt. Oliver.
Officials identified the man as 36-year-old Michael Buchanan, who police say is connected to recent robberies.
#BREAKING: Several ambulances and police cars, including officers in tactical gear and FBI officers are here along Brownsville Road in Mount Oliver. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/W9o7zCyC1e
— MEGHAN SCHILLER (@MeghanKDKA) November 20, 2019
There was a heavy police presence in Mt. Oliver Wednesday as part of Brownsville Road was blocked off and officers in tactical gear were on the scene. KDKA's Meghan Schiller reports there were several ambulances and police cars along Brownsville Road at the time.
"The male was located going into a building on this block and went into an apartment that was not his," said Chris Togneri, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
For that reason, police feared a hostage situation. Officers evacuated the nearby apartments, as well as the downstairs business Mt. Oliver Dental Pavilion.
A stretch of road between Arlington Avenue and Bausman Street was blocked by Pittsburgh Police vehicles. The road is now back open.
FBI Pittsburgh, as well as Mt. Oliver Police and the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, were on scene, along with the Pittsburgh Police.
It took about an hour before Buchanan surrendered to the police. He was taken in handcuffs and put into a police car.
Buchanan is now charged in the Oct. 23 robbery of a First National Bank on East Carson Street and the Nov. 16 robbery of a Unimart on Brownsville Road.
WATCH: KDKA's Kym Gable reports live on the new charges Michael Buchanan faces.
Buchanan is facing charges in all three incidents. He is in the Allegheny County Jail.
Mt. Oliver's Mayor Frank Bernardini said he's had enough, and he's glad help came in for this arrest.
"Mt. Oliver is no longer going to be a safe haven for everyone who wants to just come through here -- hang out, rob banks, do drugs or whatever else," he said. "Okay? No longer."
Bernardini told KDKA the police force is working on 27 outstanding arrest warrants in other cases,
He said it never used to be like this: "Never. And it's not just Mount Oliver. It's all over."
Stay with KDKA.com for the latest on this developing story.