A Richmond Heights gas station clerk wound up in toy handcuffs on Wednesday after a man claiming to be a police officer demanded $20 in fuel at a station on South Big Bend Boulevard, according to police. The clerk was not seriously hurt and put $20 on the pump as ordered, authorities say, and the man left the scene without taking the gas. Officers later detained the suspect after he drove to University City police headquarters, where they also recovered a firearm.
What police say
According to First Alert 4, court complaints identify the suspect as 26-year-old Xavian Kimbrough of Florissant. The complaint states Kimbrough pointed a gun at the clerk, announced that he wanted to be a police officer, then snapped toy handcuffs onto the clerk’s wrist.
Investigators say he demanded $20 worth of gas and the clerk complied by adding $20 to the pump. Kimbrough then left the station without actually taking the fuel, according to the complaint. University City officers later detained Kimbrough and notified Richmond Heights police, First Alert 4 reports.
Police response and where it happened
University City police headquarters is located at 6801 Delmar Boulevard, where the department provides weekly incident reports and public records online for residents who like to keep a close eye on local crime.
Richmond Heights Police Department maintains a running May crime summary that is open for public review and also posts contact details and incident logs on its website, offering neighbors a window into what officers are dealing with around town.
Charges and court schedule
Per the complaint reported by First Alert 4, Kimbrough faces several felony counts, including first-degree attempted robbery, second-degree kidnapping and two counts of armed criminal action.
The report notes he was on probation in connection with a 2020 theft of a Tesla, and court filings set his arraignment for Friday.
How to help
Anyone who witnessed the encounter or has video of the incident is asked to contact the Richmond Heights Police Department. The department provides contact information and crime-summary documents on its public pages and can be reached at 314-645-3000 for tips and information.
