84-Year-Old Woman Assaulted While Pumping Gas: NYSP

WAWARSING, NY — A Lake Katrine man was accused of pushing an 84-year-old woman down while she was pumping gas and stealing her car.

The New York State Police said, around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, troopers were sent to a Mobil gas station on State Route 209 in the town of Wawarsing for a report of a stolen vehicle.

A preliminary investigation found that Shirley Clayton, 84, of Kerhonkson, was pumping gas when she was assaulted by Christopher Doulin, 37, of Lake Katrine.

Authorities said Doulin shoved Clayton to the ground and got in the woman’s 2004 Toyota Corolla.

As he was going through Clayton’s purse, a patron at the gas station came to her aid and tried to remove Doulin from the car.

Doulin then sped away in Clayton’s car, going south on State Route 209.

Troopers saw the car and tried to stop it, but Doulin crashed the Toyota, police said, and he fled on foot.

He was located by troopers a short distance away and was immediately arrested.

Doulin was impaired by drugs, police said, and was in possession of a small amount of cocaine.

He was also wanted on an active bench warrant.

Doulin was charged with:

• Second-degree hate/crime robbery, a felony
• Driving while ability impaired by drugs, a misdemeanor
• Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor
• Second-degree bail jumping, a felony
• Second-degree criminal mischief, a felony

He was arraigned in the Town of Wawarsing Court and sent to the Ulster County Jail without bail.