Social media tip leads to arrest of Franklin robbery suspect

A social media tip has resulted in a Moraine man being arrested for the attempted robbery of a Speedway gas station in Franklin.

Christopher Pate, 32, was arrested at the Montgomery County Jail in Dayton and booked into the Warren County Jail late Monday night.

Pate was arraigned and entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to robbery, a second-degree felony, in Franklin Municipal Court.

He remains in the Warren County Jail under a $25,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing for Pate is scheduled for 4 p.m. Oct. 8, at which the court will decide if there is enough probable cause that a felony offense was committed.

MORE: Do you recognize him? Police searching for man who attempted to rob Speedway

Police allege that the suspect walked into the Speedway about 10 p.m. Sept. 9 at 1295 E. Second St. and gave the cashier a note demanding money. The employee activated an alarm and the suspect left without obtaining any money.

The lead came from one of the department’s Facebook followers.

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