By Shereen Siewert

WAUSAU — Two men are in custody in connection with the attempted armed robbery of a Wausau gas station, according to a Wausau Police Department news release.

Police on Monday released surveillance footage of Saturday’s attempted armed robbery at BMW Fuel Mart, also known as the Clark gas station, on Third Avenue in Wausau. In addition to the video, still images of both suspects were released.

Less than three hours after the footage was released, Devonte Scoles, 20, walked into the Wausau Police Department and implicated himself in the crime, the release states. Scoles was arrested and taken to the Marathon County Jail.

Further investigation led police to identify a second suspect, 31-year-ld Joshua Pregont. Police say Pregont was in possession of the firearm and made the demand for money at the time of the attempted robbery. Pregont was arrested after an investigative traffic stop at about 10:40 p.m. at Marathon Park.

Police say Pregont was an occupant of the vehicle, where investigators discovered a firearm resembling the one used in the attempted robbery. Pregont; who had open warrants in Eau Claire County, Marathon County and Wisconsin Community Corrections; was arrested and taken to jail.

Scoles faces preliminary charges of attempted armed robbery as party to a crime.

Pregont was referred to the Marathon County District Attorney’s office on charges of attempted armed robbery and possessing a firearm as a felon.

The attempted robbery was reported at about 9:22 p.m. Saturday. A female clerk shoved both men out the door before any money or goods could be stolen, police said.

Additional details will be available Wednesday, when both men are slated to make an initial appearance in Marathon County Circuit Court.

Court records show Scoles faced felony charges in December 2013, when he was 15 years old, of child abuse and battery by a prisoner. The charges, filed first in adult court in Marathon County, were waived into juvenile court one month later.

Pregont, of Wausau, has a string of prior convictions on his record dating back to 2005, according to online court records. He was most recently charged in November 2017 with theft and failed to show for his scheduled initial appearance.

In the release, Capt. Ben Graham thanked community members and the media who reviewed and shared the Facebook post that prompted Scoles to turn himself in.Press Release – Attempted Robbery – Final