What started as a brazen afternoon holdup at a Bensalem smoke-and-vape shop has ended with two men in custody and a white BMW tied to the scene, according to township police. Bensalem Township Police say two suspects have been arrested in connection with a May 14 armed robbery at Cloud City Smoke and Vape. Investigators allege one man walked in wielding a crowbar, threatened a store employee and tried to assault the worker while the pair scooped up merchandise, then took off in a white BMW. The employee was left badly shaken but the suspects did not get far, police said in a Monday update announcing arrests and warrants.
In a Facebook update from Bensalem Police, authorities identified the suspects as 30-year-old Ethan Maszczenski and 22-year-old Daniel McKay. Detectives say they leaned heavily on surveillance footage, license-plate readers and township intersection cameras to connect the BMW to the robbery. Arrest warrants for robbery and related charges were obtained, and both men were later picked up by Philadelphia police. Officials say the arrests were completed and announced on May 18.
How investigators tracked the suspects
According to police, detectives first combed through the store’s surveillance video and then pulled footage from nearby intersection cameras to get clear images of the getaway car. Once they had the plate, they ran it through regional license-plate readers, which flagged the white BMW’s movements.
That combination of camera work and automated readers, investigators said, allowed them to quickly narrow the search and coordinate with Philadelphia officers, who ultimately located the vehicle and detained the occupants. Police characterized the case as a focused, technology-aided effort that moved quickly from grainy video to an actual pair of handcuffs.
Arrests, custody and court
Per the same Facebook post, once arrest warrants were issued, Philadelphia officers took both Maszczenski and McKay into custody. Police say Maszczenski is currently being held at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, awaiting extradition to Bucks County. McKay, according to the department, was transported to the Bucks County Correctional Facility after an arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Terrance P. Hughes Sr.
Authorities say bail for McKay was set at 10 percent of $250,000. The Curran-Fromhold facility is operated by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, while the Bucks County Main Correctional Facility in Doylestown houses pretrial detainees for that jurisdiction.
Legal notes
Robbery is a felony under Pennsylvania law, as outlined in 18 Pa.C.S. a7 3701, and the potential penalties depend on the circumstances of the crime and any aggravating factors. An arraignment before a Magisterial District Judge serves as a defendant’s first court appearance, where charges are formally read, bail is set and issues such as extradition between jurisdictions are addressed.
Convictions for felony robbery in Pennsylvania can result in significant prison sentences and fines under the state’s sentencing guidelines, which means the legal road ahead for anyone convicted on such charges is rarely a light one.
What officials are asking
The Bensalem Police Department says the investigation is still active. Officials are asking anyone with additional information about the May 14 robbery to use the contact and tip information listed on the township’s public website.
Once the suspects are fully transferred to Bucks County custody, local prosecutors are expected to review the case file and proceed with formal charging documents. Police have not released further details on what property, if any, has been recovered or what additional evidence they are still sifting through.
