Alleged Delhi Express Mart burglar flees -- but not far

A Hobart man who allegedly robbed the Express Mart convenience store in Delhi in the wee hours of Friday morning didn't get too far from the scene of the crime before his arrest. 

At 4:12 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, a man stole cash from the register at the Express Mart, at the corner of Kingston and Main Streets in the village, and then fled the scene in a vehicle. He was unarmed, police said.

"He went to purchase an item. When [the cashier] opened the register, he pushed her out of the way, took the cash and ran off," said Delhi Village Police Chief Michael Mills. 

As Delhi police were responding to a 911 call, state troopers from the Margaretville station heard the incident over the radio and began patrolling for the suspect's vehicle. At 4:36 a.m., the troopers stopped a vehicle traveling on County Road 18 in the town of Stamford, and arrested the driver: 41-year-old Jamel Wilson of Hobart.

The proceeds from the burglary were in the vehicle. Police say Wilson was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance.

Wilson was taken into custody without incident, according to a news release from Delhi village police. He was charged by state police with driving while ability impaired by drugs, and seventh-degree possession of a controlled substance.

He was then turned over to the Delhi Police Department, where he was charged with third-degree robbery, petit larceny and second-degree harassment for the incident at the Express Mart. Wilson was arraigned in Delhi town court, and remanded to the Delaware County Jail in lieu of $15,000 cash bail. 

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Village and state police were also assisted by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office.

Update, 5:15 p.m.: This story has been updated to include information from a press release put out Friday afternoon by the New York State Police

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