Third suspect arrested in string of store robberies

A man accused of participating in a string of convenience store robberies in May was arrested Saturday at Glacier Park international Airport.

Richard Gordon Dilka, 20, was present in the getaway car during two of the three robberies and received money from one of them, authorities allege.

He is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Marc Matthews, 25, and Royden Johnson, 36, also are facing charges in connection with the string of holdups.

According to court documents, Johnson, Matthews, and Dilka attempted to rob Junction Gas and Groceries on U.S. 2 in Columbia Heights on May 21. Johnson went into the store with a red bandanna over his face and pointed a gun at the clerk. Matthews, who owned the getaway car, and Dilka stayed in the vehicle.

The clerk hid, and Johnson fled from the store without getting any money.

Forty minutes and 20 miles later, Johnson, Matthews, and Dilka are accused of successfully robbing the Woodland Qwik Stop on Woodland Park Drive.

Johnson entered the store, again in a red bandanna, and pointed a revolver at the clerk. Matthews and Dilka again stayed in the getaway car.

The trio escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, but Matthews and Dilka each received about $50 of the stolen money, according to court papers.

Matthews and Dilka are both accused of driving the getaway car at some point during the first two holdups.

Two days later, Johnson entered the Kum 'n' Go convenience store on U.S. 93 South in Kalispell, police said.

He allegedly pointed a semi-automatic pistol at the clerk and demanded money from the register. The clerk refused and was on the phone with police as the suspect bolted through the door.

Matthews was in the car at the time of the third robbery, but may not have known what Johnson had planned to do, court documents suggest. Dilka was not involved.

Detectives were led to Johnson, Matthews, and Dilka through tips from CrimeStoppers and a confidential informant, according to court records. Surveillance tapes and other physical evidence also were collected, investigators said.

Johnson was arrested in July 2007 near Woodland Park Drive on two Washington warrants, one for a drug offense and one for fleeing custody, while the robbery investigation was ongoing, detectives said.

Johnson was later charged with three counts of felony robbery, to which he pleaded not guilty in August 2007. He is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Matthews turned himself in to Flathead County Sheriff's deputies in August 2007, and later that month pleaded not guilty to three counts of felony robbery. He was released in October 2007 on formal house arrest.

Johnson and Matthews are both scheduled for trials in the March 10 jury term.

Dilka, who faces two counts of robbery, has yet to be arraigned,

If convicted, Dilka, Johnson, and Matthews each face up to 40 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for each count.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com