SOUTH NEW BERLIN – The Chenango County Sheriff's Office said a man pretending to have a gun attempted to rob the Mirabito's Gas Station in South New Berlin Sunday evening but fled the scene after a store employee refused to cooperate.

The store employee was able to provide the police with a description of the suspect and provided license plate information for the vehicle used in the crime. Three people were reportedly seen in the vehicle as it fled.

Chenango County Sheriff Ernie R. Cutting said, “It is alleged that on January 23, 2022 at approximately 4:22 p.m., 28-year-old, Jesey L. Smith, of Spencer, New York, went into the Mirabito's Gas Station in the Town of South New Berlin and simulated that he had a gun concealed in his jacket pocket. Smith demanded money and cigarettes from the store clerk. The store clerk did not comply with the orders of Smith, Smith then fled the scene.”

Smith was later taken into custody and arrested for second degree attempted robbery, a D class felony.

Smith was arraigned in the Town of New Berlin Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility without bail.

Cutting reported the 911 center was first alerted by a triggered silent alarm at the gas station. Several police patrols responded within minutes of the call to the area.

Cutting said police arrived to find the suspect had already fled and an employee told them there had just been an attempted robbery.

The victim stated that a male had walked into the store and demanded money from the store employee. When the male was unsuccessful in getting the money, he fled the scene, said Cutting.

While police were responding, a NY State Police car came into contact with the reported vehicle. The trooper was able to stop the vehicle on State Hwy 320 in the Town of Norwich with the assistance from the Norwich City Police Department. The occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody without incident and turned over to members of the Chenango County Sheriff's Office.

Smith is scheduled to re-appear in New Berlin Court at a later date. The remaining occupants of the vehicle have not been charged at this time, and the case is still under investigation.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted in the investigation by the New York State Police, Norwich City Police Department and the New Berlin Police Department.

All reported crimes are allegations, and all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

– Tyler Murphy, Sun Managing Editor