Aggravated Robbery & Aggravated Assault Arrest

On Monday, June 8, 2026, at approximately 8:42 a.m., Pittsburg Police Department Dispatch received a phone call from an employee of the Dollar General Store located at 2004 S. Rouse St. Pittsburg, Kansas. The employee reported a black male who was wearing a face mask entered the store, displayed a black-colored handgun to the employee, and demanded money from the store’s cash register. After taking the cash register money from the employee, the suspect exited the Dollar General Store, got into a silver-colored large SUV, and drove away southbound on Rouse Street.

Officers and Detectives with the Pittsburg Police Department, as well as Deputies with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office quickly responded to the area. Law enforcement officers quickly located discarded clothing items and a black-colored semi-automatic-style handgun near the Dollar General Store on/along the roadway of east 530th Ave. just east of the city limits of Pittsburg. Upon inspection, the handgun was discovered to be a BB style handgun manufactured to resemble a legitimate handgun firearm. Based on information gathered during the investigation, the clothing items and black-colored handgun were seized as evidence.

Through the combined use of City of Pittsburg Public Safety Cameras and Flock Safety license plate reader cameras located throughout the City of Pittsburg, the suspect vehicle was able to be identified as a silver-colored Chevrolet Suburban, displaying a State of Kansas license plate.

The registered owner of the suspect vehicle was identified as City of Pittsburg, Ks resident 57-year-old Mitchell Thomas. Based on physical descriptors gleaned from Thomas’ State of Kansas issued driver’s license, Thomas was identified as a potential suspect in the robbery which had occurred at the Dollar General Store.

Law Enforcement Officers quickly checked an address within the City of Pittsburg associated with Thomas, at approximately 10:00 am. Upon their arrival at the residence, the suspect vehicle was observed in plain view parked in the attached garage of the residence via the open overhead vehicle entry/exit door. Thomas was located at the residence and was questioned on scene by a Detective with the Pittsburg Police Department.

During on-scene questioning, Thomas confessed to committing the robbery at the Dollar General Store and through his cooperation with law enforcement, the money stolen from the Dollar General Store was recovered from Thomas’ residence.

As a result of the investigation, 57-year-old Mitchell Thomas of Pittsburg, was arrested and transported to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office for booking on the following charges:

• Aggravated Robbery (Felony)
• Aggravated Assault (Felony)

Mr. Thomas is currently being held without bond at the Crawford County, Kansas Jail.

Mr. Thomas is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this incident or other crimes is encouraged to contact the Pittsburg Police Department at (620) 231-1700 or the automated tip line at (620) 231-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.