Witness description, joint police work result in quick arrest after robbery

UPDATED Aug. 1st, 10:22 a.m.

A 43-year-old Amsterdam man was arrested Thursday night after he robbed a gas station and attempted to flee.

Amsterdam Police say 43-year-old Jeffrey Engle walked into Kings Fuel at 313 E. Main St. at around 9:19 p.m. wearing a plaid shirt and a Rastafarian wig/hat combination.

Police were able to secure a vivid description of the suspect, as well as the license plate number of the vehicle he got into, said Amsterdam Det. Thomas DiMezza.

State Police and neighboring police agencies staked out neighboring areas, and at around 9:40 p.m., Charlton Police monitoring the corner of Routes 67 and 147 spotted the suspect vehicle.

The patrolling officers followed the vehicle as other police units closed in on the suspect. Engle was finally stopped on Route 5 at I-890.

Police were able to backtrack and found the hat and the shirt Engle had been wearing on different streets; police are still looking for the gun, which Engle later told police was fake, said Det. Dimezza.

Engle has been charged with first-degree robbery. Police have recovered the cash that was stolen in the robbery.

Below is the scanner chatter report CBS 6 posted last night as we followed the developments in the incident. 

Scanner Chatter: Armed Robbery

10:28 p.m. - Amsterdam Police confirm that Scotia Police have taken the alleged robber into custody at Route 5 and Interstate 890.

10:06 p.m. - Scanner reports Scotia Police have the armed robber in custody.

9:55 p.m. - Scanner chatter indicates that police are in pursuit of the vehicle.

9:50 p.m. - Police have confirmed that the Citgo Station on East Main Street was robbed.

9:40 p.m. - Scanner chatter is reporting that an armed robbery has occurred in Amsterdam at the East Main St. Citgo station.

Scanner reports say that the suspect had mask on his/her face and displayed a weapon. Chatter indicates that police are looking for a red Dodge minivan, which was last seen heading toward Schenectady on Route 5.