update: Police: Man robbed at Pittsfield Township Bob Evans by acquaintance, 2 others

Pittsfield Township Deputy Police Chief Gordy Schick said the 20-year-old Howell man who was robbed at the Bob Evans had met an acquaintance to settle a debt regarding some truck repairs. They had known each other for approximately three weeks, Schick said.

Three men, one with a knife, robbed the Howell man and then ran toward a Days Inn across the street. All three have been arrested. Two of the men were arraigned Friday. Frank Flenna, 33, of Marine City, and Kevin Barthlow, 28, of Harrison Township were both charged with armed robbery. Flenna received an additional charge of assaulting or resisting a police officer.

Schick said their arrests are thanks to good witnesses who were able to point police in the right direction, leading them to the room where the men were staying.

“If it wasn’t for good witnesses, the suspects could have gotten away,” he said.

The Howell man reported being robbed at 1:20 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of the Bob Evans at 2411 Carpenter Road.

A Smith and Wesson folding knife and drugs were confiscated from the arrested men. Schick said there were no other indicators in the police report that made him believe the incident was a drug deal, but the robbery is still under investigation.

Flenna, Barthlow and the 26-year-old man are being held at the Washtenaw County Jail. Flenna and Barthlow both have a $25,000 cash bond and preliminary examinations set for Oct. 30.

It’s unclear which man knew the Howell man.