Accused robber uses Bible to hold up store

8/31/2013

Griffin

First the robber hit the gas station clerk with a Bible.

Blow after blow from the good book was delivered to the Circle K clerk’s face and head “in a boxing motion” while the employee loaded an ice cooler outside the store, according to a Toledo police report.

The man accused of hitting the clerk with the Bible and the ensuing tussle with police is Abbott Griffin, 57, of 2845 Eldora Dr., who was charged with aggravated robbery and held Friday in the Lucas County jail in lieu of $50,000 bond.

The Bible-thumping man followed the clerk into the store about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday and told the clerk to call police and the mayor before demanding cash, according to the report.

The cash placed on the counter was, apparently, unsatisfactory to the bandit, who in the police report, then demanded the clerk open the store’s safe “or I will have something in my left hand to put you on the floor.”

While police traveled to the store at 2969 Tremainsville Rd., the robber broke a clock. When they got there, a man approached the door with his hands in the air.

“I've been running all night. You saw me like three times. Take me,” the robber reportedly told officers.

Griffin then allegedly refused to put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed and said, “You can't take me, I'll take your gun,” before running around the store.

Officers cornered the man near a beer case. The robber snatched cans of brew and threw them at the officers, striking one in the arm but causing no injury, the report states.

After two officers tried unsuccessfully to use a Taser on the robber, officers pinned him against the front door, where he reportedly kicked and punched officers and then tried to bite one of them.

Griffin was treated at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center for minor injuries before being booked into the jail Thursday and arraigned Friday.

The clerk was not injured.

Contact Taylor Dungjen at tdungjen@theblade.com, or 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @taylordungjen.