Man accused of attempting to shoot gas station clerk faces federal gun charge
A man investigators say pointed a loaded handgun at a gas station clerk in Ypsilanti Township last month - then pulled the trigger as his weapon malfunctioned- is now facing a federal gun charge.
Thomas Edward Fields, 41, of Ypsilanti Township, was charged today in a federal criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Fields
It's unclear when Fields will make an initial appearance in federal court in Detroit. Fields already is facing numerous state charges in the case, including armed robbery and assault with intent to murder. He was out on parole at the time.
According to an affidavit by ATF Special Agent Michael Bolf, Washtenaw County sheriff's deputies responded about 11:51 p.m. Aug. 30 to the Marathon gas station at 3025 East Michigan Avenue after the clerk called. He reported that a man pointed a handgun at him and pulled the trigger, but the "weapon did not discharge."
Deputies detained Fields and found a handgun in one of his pockets and a pocket knife in another, the affidavit says. The .32 caliber handgun had 4 rounds in the magazine, but none in the chamber, the affidavit says.
When Fields was put in the back of a patrol car, the affidavit says he attempted to kick out the driver's side rear window. He initially said he didn't rob the store, the affidavit says, but later told investigators he attempted to rob it, but didn't get anything.
Fields then asked for an attorney and cursed at a deputy, the affidavit says. Investigators say they reviewed surveillance footage that showed Fields walk into the store, pull a gun out of his pocket, aim at it the clerk and pull the trigger.
Fields has been held at the Washtenaw County Jail since his arrest, jail officials said this afternoon.
County court records show Fields lives with his parents not far from the gas station, is unemployed and on food stamps. In the state case, he also is charged with assault with intent to rob while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a weapon with unlawful intent, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
State Department of Corrections records show Fields was paroled April 14, 2010, after serving more than 4 years in prison for assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder. He also has convictions for receiving stolen property, breaking and entering and second-degree home invasion.
Bond in the state case was set by Magistrate Thomas Truesdell at $500,000, but Fields cannot be released because there is a state detainer on him. He is scheduled to return to court in the state case Sept. 14.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
hope4life
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 9:37 p.m.
Please think before you speak..........What if he was your brother, father, son, cousin, uncle, or so on would you still speak of him like this? Everyone is human and makes mistakes.......we should not judge others unless we have walked in their shoes and truly know what they think and feel!!! When you say ex-con, everyone assumes the worst or when you say business man, everyone assumes greatness.......... so think of this, when you can believe in someone they will become a positive person and when you don't believe in them they will become a negative person!!!!
FredMax
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
I hope i dont have to read about this guy again in 4 years.
RJA
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 4:33 p.m.
I am so OVER this story, get him over to where he belongs. (Prison)
zip the cat
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.
C' mon @Townie What planet have you been living on. Guns are as easy to get as a pack of smokes. All ex-cons know who will supply them with a gun.
YpsiLivin
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
Well, at least he won't be on food stamps for awhile...
shepard145
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.
What is the deal with Ypsilanti and Ypsi Township and VIOLENT CRIME? By population, an overwhelming percentage of violent crime in Washtenaw Country comes from these places.
a2zoo
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.
More guns!!!! We need more guns!!! Instead of the police holding those hand in your gun days, they should have everybody gets a free gun day, where they hand out free guns to everyone until there are no more to hand out. We could do it once a month, bring the kids, serve cotton candy, the whole deal. Then let natural selection take over. We definitely need more guns!!!!
Ricebrnr
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 8:17 p.m.
Huh! You'd think that a person with your background and circumstances would know that as an instrument of death CARS kill more people daily than guns. But I don't see you advocating free car days with such dis ingenuousness... BTW those hand in your gun days are a great way to have the police destroy evidence of gun crimes and get something for it at the same time. No questions asked...yes a grand idea...
Jackietreehorn
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 9:56 a.m.
This was an MSP trooper that located and arrested this guy. He was then turned over to deputies. Just FYI
Roadman
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:45 p.m.
He is in trouble three ways. One - he faces a mandatory two years for the state felony firearm law, if convicted, in addition to the other felony charges in the state court. Two - assuming he was still on parole at the time of the alleged robbery attempt, he could fae a parole revocation hearing and be forced to serve the remainder of the sentence he received n that conviction. Three - he faces a federal court proceeding which could, if convicted, give him more prison time than the state charges. I am happy the feds are taking an interest in cases such as this.
Wolf's Bane
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.
Hey, wait. That's three strikes! Doesn't that mean a mandatory life sentence!
Ricebrnr
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
"A man investigators say pointed a loaded handgun at a gas station clerk in Ypsilanti Township last month - then pulled the trigger as his weapon malfunctioned" Really do you people need any more examples of how sometimes you can't run away and your stuff isn't enough? Don't leave your life or death up to anyone one else whims.
smokeblwr
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 12:23 p.m.
I dunno....I kind of like the condescension and take charge attitude projected. Keeps the rest of us in-line.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 3:55 a.m.
Well stated, Ricebrnr. Trying to help (if possible), I can only suggest that you avoid phrases like "you people" when promoting something worthwhile like this. :-)
Townie
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 10:14 p.m.
So where did the gun come from? HOw did someone with his record get a gun? Some reporting here? Huh?
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Sep 10, 2011 : 3:52 a.m.
I agree: we need to know details. Just sayin': in most cases where a felon gets a gun, it's because they stole them from relatives, family members or "friends." Unless they have a connection with the black market. Still - whatever it was we would like to know as a matter of record.
ffej440
Fri, Sep 9, 2011 : 9:55 p.m.
If guilty this means prison, no lets make a deal with the Feds. Washtenaw courts would plea this down to another wrist slap.