Southfield

Southfield joins Detroit authorities to search for BP gas station robber

By Jessica Strachan
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo provided by the Southfield Police Department Southfield authorities are currently looking for this man, who robbed a woman at a BP gas station on Eight Mile Jan. 22. Detroit authorities say they are also looking for the same suspect, who committed a similar crime wearing the same clothing in Detroit. Photo provided by the Southfield Police Department Southfield authorities are currently looking for this man, who robbed a woman at a BP gas station on Eight Mile Jan. 22. Detroit authorities say they are also looking for the same suspect, who committed a similar crime wearing the same clothing in Detroit.

SOUTHFIELD — Last week the Southfield Police Department asked for the public’s help in locating a suspect wanted for an unarmed robbery at the BP gas station in the 22000 block of W. Eight Mile Road.

The man, approximately 18 years old, was seen on camera dragging a woman on the ground across the parking lot in order to get away with her cellphone and wallet. It turns out that the Detroit Police Department was already on the hunt for the same suspect, Lt. Nick Loussia of the Southfield Police Department explained.

“A Detroit police officer just contact us. He saw the suspect’s picture yesterday in the news reports and was able to give us the suspect’s name,” Loussia said via email Jan. 30. “It turns out, the suspect was involved in a similar incident in Detroit and was wearing the same clothing.”

It was 6:40 p.m. Jan. 22 when the Southfield victim, a 21-year-old who was with her friend, was approached by the suspect and three of his friends. Loussia said the victim told the suspect to leave her alone as she walked into the gas station, but as soon as she walked back out to put gas in her vehicle, the man attacked her.

“(He) approached her a second time and grabbed her iPhone and wallet. The victim attempted to hold on to her property and fell down and was dragged across the parking lot by the suspect until she let go,” the press release from Jan. 29 noted.

Loussia said the suspect and his friends fled southbound, across Eight Mile, with the phone and wallet, and police were unable to locate them. It was fewer than 24 hours later, though, that authorities were tipped off by the Detroit officer, who said his department was looking for the same suspect.

“He advised our detective bureau that he was investigating a similar incident (in Detroit). He had actually identified this individual,” Loussia said, adding that they then had the victim come in for a photo lineup and she chose the same suspect wanted in Detroit.

Southfield police now have the suspect’s name and a warrant out for his arrest, Loussia added.

“Now we just have to locate him,” he said.

The robber was unarmed, though the victim did suffer minor injuries from being dragged across the parking lot. The suspect was last seen wearing a dark blue zip-up hooded jacket with four wide white strips across the chest, dark pants and dark-colored Puma gym shoes. He is identified as being a black male, 6 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 2 inches tall, about 160 pounds, with a thin build.

Anyone with information about this suspect should contact the Southfield Police Department at (248) 796-5500.

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