Suspect Arrested After Series Of Gas Station Robberies
DENVER (CBS4)- Police said tips from the public helped them track down a serial robber who targeted more than a dozen gas stations in the Denver metro area. One of his victims is relieved he's in custody.
A tipster called police after seeing the Crime Stoppers bulletin about the gas station robberies. Within one hour of receiving the anonymous call, the suspect was arrested. Aurora Police and Denver Police said they worked together to capture Ian Griggs for investigation of aggravated robbery and attempted murder.
Staring in Aurora on April 16, Griggs, 46, is believed to have robbed 14 gas stations; seven in Aurora, six in Denver and one in Commerce City.
During the robberies Griggs stabbed two victims, one of which was severely wounded. The man, Zerisenay Meharena, recounted the night he was attacked while working at the Conoco gas station on Colfax and Quebec.
"It happened so fast I don't even have time to put everything together... I just reacted," said Meharena.
Meharena told police Griggs stabbed wildly at him, trashing the cash register to get a few dollars. But Meharena was able to fight off Griggs, grabbing a metal stapler and striking him in the head before he ran off.
That mark made his face one that a customer wouldn't forget.
"He said he had just seen him in a car, driving and he recognized his face and even the car he was driving," said Meharena.
Meharena was stabbed in the arms, chest and head. He still considers himself lucky he wasn't gravely wounded.
Police are using lineups to determine whether Griggs may be a suspect in other crimes.