Ypsilanti man charged with robbing man near Ann Arbor bus stop
A 42-year-old Ypsilanti man accused of assaulting and robbing a 54-year-old man at a bus stop in Ann Arbor last month was arraigned today.
Eric Scott Gentry is charged with unarmed robbery, according to an official at the Washtenaw County Jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 26.
Eric Gentry
Gentry was released on a personal bond.
Ann Arbor police said Gentry was arrested Monday. He was identified through a tip, and officers had been searching for him, police said.
Lt. Renee Bush said the victim was near a bus stop at Packard Street and Independence Boulevard at about 9:45 a.m. Dec. 29 when he was approached by a stranger who asked if he wanted to buy Xanax. After the victim declined to buy the drugs, the man demanded money, and a verbal and physical altercation ensued.
Gentry is accused of punching the victim, who defended himself with his cane. The victim fell down and was again assaulted.
The victim gave the robber all the money he had in his wallet, and — after demanding more money — the robber fled the scene, Bush said.
Police said there was no evidence weapons were used during the assault.
Comments
GreenEggsandHam
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.
@Tru2Blu76: Interested in what you base "spill over" from Ypsilanti on? Is it facts, figures, graphs, studies etc; Maybe you base this on the belief that crime never happens North of Carpenter? The blame game is getting tired and old.
boom
Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 3:57 a.m.
Yooper, I like your self defense tactic in this case, if someone offers to sell you drugs, buy them to avoid getting beaten. That makes sense to me. Considering the guy had a cane and defended himself with it, I'm not sure what other self defense tactics he could have used. I feel sorry for the guy, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and it reads like he did about all he could do.
Justin
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 11:09 p.m.
I want 2 know why this story is in the paper when the accused has not even been identified from a recent photo I no the perp and the photo that is in this story was from 02 thats almost 10 years ago, do you not think that this man has aged in that long. how many people in ann arbor have shaved heads thousands, when these charges are dropped against Mr. Gentry I feel that the washtenaw county sheriffs department should issue a public apology for the simple fact that he did not commit this crime and now his reputation is tarnished, also for the mental stress that this is putting on him and his three children that he has. who ever reads this story do not believe it.
Andrew MacKie-Mason
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 6:21 p.m.
Can I surmise from the article that AnnArbor.com made absolutely no attempt to get in contact with the accused or his attorney? Also, what does it mean that he was "identified through a tip"?
joe golder
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 7:28 p.m.
A tip!! Thats encouraging. Maybe reward money will finally get people to speak up. The don't tell on your criminal neighbor or relative is so stupid. Thank you tipster!! Even if it was just for the money.
WalkingJoe
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 12:18 p.m.
Well, it's not like he stole $100,000 worth of equipment from Hyundai. That poor soul has to pay back $30,000 and be on probation for 5 years. Seriously though folks what do you expect, people complain when the cops do their jobs and arrest someone and if that person gets violent they say it's the cops who are wrong if the perp gets hurt. But when one of these losers fianally gets arrested then the lawyers and judges just let them out again.
TT
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 10:55 a.m.
Personal recog bond for a violent crime against a disabled person. You have to ask what the hell judges in and around AA could possibly be thinking lately. Judges need to be selected carefully based upon their ability to protect the public against predators like this and should have a resumee to demonstrate that they posess this quality along with some basic common sense. Obvious failure in this case.
Andrew MacKie-Mason
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 6:19 p.m.
A judge's job is not to "protect the public", their job is to act justly and in accordance with the law. From the sounds of this article, there's not actually very much evidence against this guy, and thus little excuse to keep him locked up on excessive bail.
YooperTrooper
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 9:54 a.m.
@Tru2Blu76: RE: AAPD Providing Basic Self-defense Methods for Surviving Such Criminal Acts -- While I am an advocate for self-defense I'm fairly certain that all the AAPD could offer is advice for being a better victim, e.g., "Let the robber have your money." Or "While being attacked pull your knees to your chest and shield your head with your arms." Or perhaps, in this case, "If someone offers to sell you drugs buy them to avoid being beaten." Remember; the penelties for drug possession may be stiffer than those for unarmed robbery, but they are still better than being beaten to death. @SW40: I too would like to know who released Gentry on a personal bond. And, why wasn't he charged with any form of assault? Do we really get leniency for beating people to the ground to rob them instead of threatening them with a weapon to get their money?!
SW40
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 7:12 a.m.
Are you kidding me a personal bond? Please include in these stories which judge's are imposing these rediculous bonds and sentencing these people to easy sentences, as citizens we deserve to know which judges don't deserve our vote next time around.
Andrew MacKie-Mason
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
It seems like you should be demanding to know what evidence there was to keep him locked up, not going after a judge who made a bond ruling. Trust me, Ann Arbor judges, like everywhere else, are conservative and pro-prosecution. Recognizance bonds are rare, and suggests that there's not very much to this case.
Tru2Blu76
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 6:43 a.m.
The interesting thing is that this crime appears to be another "spill over" from Ypsilanti. Or - it may be that the "crime community" there has learned not to commit crimes too close to home. It also appears probable that the perp was going to take the bus either into Ann Arbor or to some location where he could either hide or return to Ypsi. I'm familiar with that stop, there are still a number of people using it even tho Georgetown Mall is closed. Offering: there are self-defense methods for avoiding / surviving such criminal acts. I'm thinking more people should learn more about self defense. Maybe AAPD could provide the basics as an outreach to our community. My sympathy for the victim.