Two charged in attempted gas station robbery

Lake County sheriff's police said Friday two Palatine men are charged with trying to rob a gas station in far southern Lake County. Andrew Jarding, 35, of the 100 block of Linden Street, and Matthew Bartuch, 38, of the 300 block of Palatine Road, are charged with a Nov. 9 attempted aggravated robbery at the Marathon Gas Station at 20235 Rand Road. Police said Jarding rode up to the station on a bicycle about 11:37 a.m., and brandished a weapon and demanded money. The clerk locked the door and closed the cash register, police said, and Jarding fled. He rode the bicycle to a location close by where Bartuch was waiting in a car, and both drove away. The pair were identified through fingerprints on the bike and a description of the getaway car, police said. They face up to seven years in prison if convicted, and are held on $50,000 bond. Their next court dates are pending.