On December 12 at approximately 10:04 p.m., the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call for an armed robbery at the Dollar General at 12343 State Route 38 in the Town of Berkshire. The initial report was that a male subject entered the store, displayed what appeared to be a handgun, and forcibly stole US currency from the store’s
safe, as well as property from an employee. The suspect then allegedly fled the scene in a waiting vehicle, which was operated by a second person.
A Tioga County sheriff deputy, who was in the area, was able to successfully locate the suspect’s vehicle after it left the scene. The suspect’s vehicle failed to stop for the deputy, resulting in a brief pursuit that ended when the suspect’s vehicle crashed.
The two occupants were then taken into custody. Stephon R. Augustin, 22, and 22-year-old Brazil Z. Downs, 22, both of Rochester, were arrested and charged with two counts of robbery in the second degree, class C felonies, and two
counts of grand larceny in the fourth degree, class E felonies.
Both individuals were arraigned in CAP Court at the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office by Justice Richard Gorman and were remanded to the Tioga County jail without bail. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are
possible. The Tioga County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police, Berkshire EMS and Maine EMS.
