Royersford Man Allegedly Attempts Robbery with 'Finger Guns'

A Royersford man was arrested Saturday following two alleged robbery attempts and an alleged purse-snatching in the Pottstown area, Pottstown police said. 

Edward Grist, age 22, reportedly led police on a short chase down Route 100 on Saturday after he was pursued from the Upland Square Giant grocery store. 

According to an article in the Pottstown Mercury, police said Grist attempted to rob Maninno's Restaurant and Professional Pharmacy, both on North Hanover Street, by pointing his fingers at employees as if it were a gun and demanding money at the restaurant and narcotics at the pharmacy.

Grist reportedly fled after getting nothing from either business. A little while later, a woman shopping at the Giant in Upland Square Shopping Center reported that her purse had been stolen by a man later identified as Grist.

Employees of the Giant store attempted to stop Grist but he escaped and got into a green Nissan Maxima. The Maxima was pulled over by police a short time later. 

Police said that a blue hoodie sweatshirt that was described by victims of the attempted robberies was found in the back seat of the Maxima. 

Grist and another occupant of the car, Erica Kriczy of Pottstown, were arrested and taken into custody. 

Both were charged with felony counts of robbery and misdemeanor counts of conspiracy, simple assault, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft.

Grist was additionally charged with making terroristic threats and false identification to a police officer. 

Court records show Grist has had run-ins with the law before, and had served time for assault and been on probation on theft charges.

Bail was set at $250,000 at a preliminary hearing, and Grist is currently in Montgomery County Correctional Facility.