By Staff
NILES - The Michigan State Police Niles post has released the name of a suspect that was arrested on Jan. 17 for the robbery of a Catholic priest at St. Mark's Catholic Church.
The suspect is Troy Allen Roberts, 40, of Niles.
State Police officials here said their investigation into Roberts showed he has been homeless for the past two weeks.
On Monday at about 5 a.m., Niles post troopers were dispatched to St. Mark's Catholic Church, 3 N. 19th St., for a breaking and entering home invasion and armed robbery. It was reported that the suspect was armed with a knife.
When Troopers arrived, it was learned that the suspect had fled on food with more than $3,000. The priest, who was the robbery victim, was not harmed during the incident. City of Niles Police Department and Niles Township Police officers also responded and assisted.
The suspect's footprints were tracked in the freshly fallen snow by Niles PD's K-9 westbound from the scene. The suspect was located and arrested by PD Officer Mitchell and his K-9 "Rex."
Roberts is thought to be involved in an earlier breaking and entering into the church which was investigated by Niles Township Police.
Roberts has been charged with felony counts of armed robbery, home invasion, breaking and entering of a safe and resisting and obstructing a police officer by the Berrien County Prosecutors office.
Roberts was arraigned at the South County Courthouse in Niles. Bond has been set at $250,000.
Troopers from the Niles post and officers from the Niles and Niles Township Police departments were able to recover all the parishioners' checks and cash donations to the church.