An early-morning stickup at the Shell station at Lincoln Avenue and Chester Pike in Prospect Park ended with a local man in handcuffs after police say he threatened a clerk with a box cutter, grabbed a cash box and cartons of cigarettes, and later made the unusual choice to come back to the scene.
Investigators say the clerk escaped without injury after vaulting the counter and bolting from the store. Officers ultimately tracked down the suspect days later when they spotted his vehicle at another gas station.
What police say
According to an affidavit and local police, the robbery unfolded at about 5:40 a.m. and was over in less than a minute. The suspect allegedly displayed what appeared to be a box cutter while demanding money from the clerk, then took off with a cash box and multiple cartons of cigarettes.
Investigators estimate between $2,000 and $3,000 in cash was taken, along with the cigarettes, based on the affidavit and police account reported by 6ABC.
Clerk escape
Prospect Park Police Chief Dave Madonna told reporters the clerk reacted quickly once the suspect displayed the box cutter. The clerk, he said, "vaulted the counter and left the business," which gave him a chance to call 911 and kept the encounter from turning violent.
The confrontation lasted only seconds before the suspect ran off on foot, according to the chief’s account described in local coverage by 6ABC.
Arrest and charges
An affidavit states that four days after the robbery, a man later identified as 30-year-old William Morissey came back to the same Shell station and asked the clerk whether he had been reported to police. That return visit did not work in his favor.
Officers soon recognized Morissey’s vehicle at another gas station and took him into custody. He is now facing robbery and assault charges and is being held on $50,000 bail, according to AOL. Borough police and county prosecutors are handling the investigation and charging decisions.
Neighbors on edge
Regulars at the Shell say the holdup has them rattled, especially given the early hour. One resident told reporters, "It needs to stop," while another added a reminder that "Your life is always more important than money."
Shoppers said they were relieved the clerk was not hurt and called for more visible patrols during those pre-dawn hours, according to local reaction reported by AOL.
What to watch next
The case is now moving through Delaware County’s court system as prosecutors review the affidavit and other evidence. Police say the investigation remains active and have not released further details about the incident.
