Strabane Man Charged With Theft of More Than $1K in Cigarettes

A Strabane man is in the Washington County Jail after South Strabane police said he stole more than $1,000 worth of cigarettes from the Giant Eagle in the township on Saturday.

Police said officers were summoned to the grocery store after 911 indicated that two employees from Giant Eagle were chasing down a theft suspect.

When police arrived, officers saw the suspect being held down on the ground by the two employees.

The suspect was later identified as Brian Lee Fodor Sr., 45—and police said he jumped over the counter of the vacant cigarette counter and shoved $1,173.42 worth of cartons of cigarettes into a large black garbage bag, which was recovered.

When patted down, police said they discovered a red pipe in Fodor's possession.

Police noted in the criminal complaint that one of the witnesses, an off-duty officer, identified himself to Fodor, who struggled and reportedly grabbed the man by the throat during the incident.

"At one end of the pipe there was burt (Chore Boy), which I know to be used for consumption of crack cocaine," an officer indicated in the criminal complaint.

Police charged Fodor with a felony count of theft, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and simple assault.

Fodor was arraigned Sunday before district Judge Joshua Kanalis, who remanded him to the Washington County Jail after he was unable to post a $35,000 straight bond.

Fodor was recently held for court on a theft charge out of Peters Township. He is also facing a drug paraphernalia charge out of Cecil Township.