Gas Station Robbery Suspect Charged

ROYAL OAK, MI — A man accused of of robbing a Crooks Road Speedway gas station is facing the possibility of life in prison. Paul Anthony Satterfield was arraigned May 19 in Royal Oak’s 44th District Court and charged with one count of armed robbery. A probably cause hearing is scheduled for the court on May 30.

Royal Oak officers were called to the gas station near 14 Mile Road at 2:15 a.m. and were told by a clerk that Satterfield, who was wearing a black shirt, allegedly pointed a gun at him and demanded money, according to police reports. Satterfield was in the station for several minutes before he made the demand, the clerk told police.

Royal Oak Police Sgt. Donald Swiatkowski said in a statement that officers saw Satterfield on a bicycle near Crooks and Lexington Avenue, about a half-mile away from the station. He matched the physical description of the suspect and police stopped him.

Satterfield clothes did not match the clerk’s description, however. Police said they investigated further and allegedly found that Satterfield was carrying an Airsoft replica handgun that matched the description provided by the clerk in the alleged robbery, according to a Daily Tribune report.

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A Royal Oak Police K-9 unit did a track in the area and two black shirts and other clothes were found in a dumpster near Crooks and Normandy that matched the clerk’s description of clothes that police believe Satterfield was wearing.

Satterfield’s bond was set at $150,000.00 cash/surety, no 10 percent at his arraignment. Police said Satterfield’s criminal history includes convictions for Driving Under the Influence (out of state) and Open Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle.

Photo courtesy of Royal Oak Police.