Pittsburgh SWAT team nabs fugitive wanted in 3 armed robberies

A man wanted in connection with three armed robberies around the region — including one in Unity in which a man was stabbed — was arrested Thursday in Pittsburgh with a cache of drugs, guns and cash, according to authorities.

Authorities from Pittsburgh police SWAT and the fugitive apprehension unit, along with U.S. marshals, descended on a home in Hazelwood early Thursday and arrested Sean Chase Jones, 19, of McKeesport on several warrants.

When they did, they found three guns, ammunition, drugs, cash and cell phones in a Dyke Street home, according to police. No charges were filed in relation to those items Thursday afternoon.

Jones was arraigned and denied bond in connection with a Dec. 5 robbery in Unity in which a man was stabbed in the leg during a gathering. He was being held at the Westmoreland County Prison. Jones and four other men were charged with robbery, aggravated assault, theft and related offenses in that incident.

State troopers said the suspects and a male resident at a Latrobe Crabtree Road home began talking about guns and the resident showed them several rifles he owns. He told authorities the suspects grabbed a couple of the rifles and pointed them at him, according to court papers. A fight ensued, and he gave up after being stabbed. The suspects fled with his guns and $5,000 that was sitting on a coffee table.

A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 5 in that case.

Jones has several other pending court cases. He had been free on his own recognizance in a 2022 gun case filed by McKeesport police, but that bail has been revoked, according to court records. He was awaiting arraignment in two robbery cases: one in Shaler on Oct. 18 and another four days later in Pittsburgh’s South Side.

In the Shaler case, township police said two men picked Jones out of a photo lineup after they reported being robbed at gunpoint by him, according to court papers.

Jones’ appearance also factored into him being charged in connection with the South Side robbery. Police said in court papers that a man met with Jones to sell drugs at a park and Jones robbed him at gunpoint. He was later picked out of a photo line up.

Staff writer Justin Vellucci contributed.