Maplewood Police Department

Press Release

November 19, 2009

Armed Robbery: At approximately 6:35 this morning a black male entered the office area of the Denco Gas station located on Springfield Ave., and assaulted the attendant with a taser type weapon.  After being shocked by the taser, the attendant was then struck about the head and face several times, knocking him to the ground.  When the attendant fell to the ground the actor removed a large amount of cash from the attendant’s jacket pocket and then fled the scene.  A customer who had just pulled in to the gas station for service called police and was able to provide a complete description and a direction of flight of the suspect.  Ptl. Kevin Graham located the subject behind a home on Russell St in the Vauxhall section of Union and engaged the suspect in a brief foot pursuit.  The suspect, Michael Terry, 22, of Jackson Ave, Union, was apprehended near the intersection of Russell St and Montclair Ave with the assistance of Ptl. Kraig Hunken and Sgt. Joe Guglielmo.  Recovered at the scene were the taser weapon and the cash taken from the attendant. Ptl. Graham suffered a minor knee injury during the arrest.  The victim also received injuries and was transported to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston where he was treated and released. Terry is charged with Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (the taser), Aggravated Assault, Robbery and Resisting Arrest.  He was later transferred to the Essex County Jail with a bail set at $100,000.