Syracuse Teen Arrested In LaGrange Armed Robbery
LAGRANGE COUNTY — Joshua Ryan Olejniczak, 19, Syracuse, has been arrested on preliminary charges of armed robbery by the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department.
According to the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department, the county dispatch center was notified at 8:36 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, of an armed robbery at the Dollar General Store, 819 S. Detroit St., LaGrange. After a joint investigation with the LaGrange, Wolcottville, Rome City, Shipshewana police departments; LaGrange County Communications; and LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department, a suspect vehicle was located.
Wolcottville Town Marshal Ryan Kauffman and Rome City Marshal Jim Sheffield stopped the suspect vehicle, a 1985 Mercedes Benz just south of Wolcottville. Olejniczak was identified as the driver.
He was taken into custody and transported to the LaGrange County Sheriff’s Department where he was interviewed. Initially Olejniczak denied any involvement in the robbery. However, during further investigation, officers located articles of clothing matching what the suspect had been wearing during the crime.
A search warrant was obtained for his vehicle, which resulted in the recovery of the $225 in cash reportedly taken and the knife he used during the robbery.
Following an additional interview later in the day, Olejniczak reportedly confessed to robbing the store, while armed.