Two jailed in robbery

Third suspect in State College apartment break-in still at large

By Chris Rosenblum

STATE COLLEGE — Two of the three men who allegedly robbed a State College apartment at gunpoint turned themselves in on Sunday.

David Barrington Jr., 18, of Stroudsburg, and Arnold Sayles Jr., 19, of North Versailles, surrendered to State College police and were arraigned before District Judge Jonathan Grine on $30,000 bail each. Both were taken to Centre County Prison.

Each faces charges of robbery, criminal conspiracy, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. They were part of a trio that, State College police say, broke into an apartment at 456 E. Beaver Ave. on Friday afternoon, threatened the occupants and then stole $56 and three cell phones worth about $600.

All three men were caught on camera entering and leaving the apartment complex.

The third man, identified as Arnold Sayles’ cousin, Dalen Sayles, no age or hometown given, was armed with a black semi-automatic pistol, according to the criminal complaint.

He remains at large and is believed by police to be in the Pittsburgh area.

He is described as thin, about 6 feet 2 inches tall and black, and wearing a dark-colored bandanna and dark, hooded sweatshirt at the time of the burglary.

According to the criminal complaint, surveillance cameras recorded Arnold Sayles entering the front door of the complex, walking to the rear door and then allowing the other men to enter.

Police say they went directly to a seventh-floor apartment.

Three men in the apartment say they heard a knock at the door. After the door was opened, according to the complaint, the alleged robbers pushed their way in and “shoved” the gun into one man’s face, forcing him against a wall.

The other two men, playing guitars, had them ripped away and thrown to the floor, according to the complaint.

All three occupants were told to sit and empty their pockets.

After about three minutes, according to the complaint, the alleged robbers left the apartment, exited the rear of the building and drove away in Arnold Sayles’ gray-green Nissan Maxima.

Police posted video stills of the alleged robbers online.

On Sunday, according to the complaint, a caller told police that Arnold Sayles and Barrington wished to surrender. At 10:30 a.m., they arrived at the State College police station.

According to the complaint, police interviewed Arnold Sayles, who, after waiving his rights, said he was in his Lock Haven University dorm room when his visiting cousin, Dalen Sayles, thought of the robbery.

The Sayleses and Barrington, police say, drove to State College and called an acquaintance of the victims to find out where they lived.

Police say Barrington, advised by his attorney, chose to remain silent.

Chris Rosenblum can be reached at 231-4620.