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Suspect in Parkersburg video lottery cafe robbery arrested

Eric Harmon

PARKERSBURG — Police announced Monday the arrest of a suspect in the armed robbery of a south Parkersburg video lottery cafe.

Eric Lee Harmon, 33, of Parkersburg, was taken into custody early Saturday morning on a capias warrant for failure to appear on a domestic battery charge in Wood County Magistrate Court, according to a release from the Parkersburg Police Department. After being questioned by detectives, he was also charged with armed robbery.

Police responded around 3:37 a.m. Sept. 7 to the Peoples Players Club Lottery Cafe at 1628 Blizzard Drive, south Parkersburg, where a clerk reported a man wearing dark clothing and a face mask displayed a knife and forced her to give him money, the release said. It’s believed approximately $7,500 was taken.

Harmon was developed as a suspect and on Friday detectives attempted to locate him at 2205 Nora St., Parkersburg, where he was believed to be staying, Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board said.

No one answered the door, although it appeared someone was home, the release said.

Detectives noticed a motorcycle at the residence and were able to determine Harmon had paid cash for it on Sept. 7.

The department’s S.W.A.T. team executed a search warrant early Saturday morning and found Harmon hiding in the attic, the release said.

He was taken to the Police Department where he was interviewed and confessed to his role in the theft, the release said.

During the search, detectives also recovered items related to the robbery, including the motorcycle and tools believed to have been purchased with the stolen money, the release said.

Harmon was arraigned in Wood County Magistrate Court and held without bond.

Additional charges are expected in the case.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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