Thief commits armed robbery of Glen Ellen store, leaves jar of marijuana

A Sonoma man allegedly committed an armed robbery of a Glen Ellen convenience store in the 13000 block of Arnold Drive — and left a jar of marijuana — on Tuesday, according to Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect, Joseph Wittig, 34, entered the Glen Ellen store shortly before 11 p.m. and demanded the cashier hand over $200 money from the register.

The cashier refused to cooperate, so Witting flashed a handgun hidden in his waistband at the cashier. The cashier asked Wittig to permit several customers in the store to leave before he complied, and Wittig agreed.

The suspect took the cash from the register, left a jar of marijuana for the cashier and fled in a vehicle. The jar was later taken by investigators as evidence.

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office detectives from the Violent Crimes unit met with the cashier and reviewed video surveillance to identify the suspect. Detectives found Wittig the next day and arrested him in the 400 block of Lovall Valley Road in Sonoma.

Using a search warrant, detectives investigated Wittig’s residence at the 400 block of Lovall Valley Road and found a replica gun and other evidence linking him to the robbery in Glen Ellen. Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Wittig on the charge of felony armed robbery.

While being booked into Sonoma County Jail, Wittig broke a Sonoma County Jail phone and received an additional charge of misdemeanor vandalism. Wittig is being held on bail for $101,000.

The Index-Tribune contacted the convenience store, but the manager did not wish to speak about the incident.

Chase Hunter covers the Sonoma city government, breaking news, crime, agriculture, housing and homelessness. Contact the reporter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com or at chasehunterb.weebly.com