UTICA, NY — A 58-year-old man was arrested following a robbery at a convenience store on Mohawk Street.
Police were dispatched to the store at the intersection of Mohawk Street and Eagle Street at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 regarding a robbery investigation.
A store employee told officers that a man entered the store, brandished a handgun and demanded cash and merchandise.
The employee gave the items to the suspect, who then fled the scene.
The employee believed the man had been inside the store earlier in the day purchasing items.
The Criminal Investigations Division was assigned to the case and reviewed available area surveillance cameras and conducted a neighborhood canvas.
Investigators located a suspect vehicle and obtained the registration, which led them to identify a suspect.
On Nov. 29, investigators conducted surveillance of the suspect’s residence.
The suspect left the house and entered the vehicle that was used in the crime, and with the assistance of patrol units, a traffic stop was conducted.
Joseph Ruffule, 58, of Utica, was detained and transported to the Utica Police Department.
A search of his residence located the weapon used in the robbery, which was determined to be a BB gun pistol, and an AR-15 style rifle.
Ruffule was charged with robbery in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
