Farmington

Police search for armed suspect in Radio Shack robbery

By Jessica Strachan
C & G Staff Writer

Police sketch

Police are looking for a suspect involved in an armed robbery that allegedly occurred at the Radio Shack at 32436 Grand River Ave. Feb. 20. Though no weapon was seen, officials say they believe the suspect was armed, which makes it the first incident of its kind in the city in more than a year.

According to Detective Andrew Morche of the Farmington Public Safety Department, the incident occurred at around 8:20 p.m. Feb. 20, during a time when there were two employees working and no customers in the store.

A press release issued after the incident said that the suspect — described as a light-skinned African-American man, around 28 years old — entered the store and ordered the employees to stay in the back of the store. He then reportedly stole numerous items from the stock room.

“The employees didn’t witness a weapon, it’s implied,” Morche said. “The female employee had her back to the door when he walked up behind her and grabbed her.”

Morche said the suspect was in the store “a very short period of time” and got away with several popular cellphones and miscellaneous electronics.

Based on one of the employees’ report, the suspect left and entered the front passenger seat of a new, dark-blue or black “shiny metallic” vehicle, possibly a Honda, according to the press release. The car was waiting outside of the store and fled eastbound on Grand River.

Neither employee was injured.

Morche noted that there is no surveillance video available, though a composite sketch of the suspect has been released. The man is described as being 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 2 inches, about 150 pounds and unshaven. He was reportedly wearing dark pants, a powder-blue shirt with white vertical stripes, light tinted eyeglasses and black gloves with holes over the knuckles. His hair was described as a short afro.

In the press release, Farmington Public Safety Cmdr. Frank Demers said the matter will continue to be investigated.

“We are grateful that no employees were injured during this incident, which is the department’s first armed robbery in 14 months,” he said.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (248) 474-5500, ext. 2240.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jessica Strachan at jstrachan@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1108.