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HAZLETON &mdash; A man from West Hazleton admitted to city police he robbed a food mart for cash to buy synthetic marijuana, according to court records.
				Gary Joseph Cieniawa, 30, of North Broad Street, was arrested early Wednesday morning when police investigated two people who stole a cell phone from an employee at Turkey Hill on Alter Street.
				During an interview with police, Cieniawa allegedly admitted he robbed Craig&rsquo;s Food Mart on West Broad Street stealing cash and a pack of cigarettes. Cieniawa told police he needed money to buy spice, a street name for synthetic marijuana, court records say.
				Police allege Cieniawa placed his hand inside a jacket pocket to indicate he had a weapon during the robbery.
				Cieniawa was arraigned by District Judge Donald L. Whittaker in Luzerne County Central Court on charges of robbery, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $500,000 bail.
				According to the criminal complaint:
				Cieniawa entered Craig&rsquo;s Food Mart at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and asked if he could purchase to cartons of cigarettes. When a store clerk replied he could only buy cigarette packs, Cieniawa placed his hand inside a jacket pocket and walked behind the counter.
				Cieniawa removed money from the register and stole a pack of cigarettes before fleeing the store.
				Police at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday responded to Turkey Hill for two customers who stole an employee&rsquo;s cell phone. Police located Cieniawa and a woman in the 200 block of East Fourth Street.
				Police in the criminal complaint said Cieniawa was in possession of a bag containing synthetic marijuana, a pipe with residue and a pack of USA Gold cigarettes, the same brand stolen from Craig&rsquo;s Food Mart.
				Cieniawa told police he needed money to buy more spice and decided to rob the food mart when he saw the cash register open, the complaint says.

Police: Man robs store for cash to buy synthetic pot