Masked Augusta Township teen accused of attempting to rob store; threatening to detonate bomb

Posted on Tue, Mar 8, 2011 : 3:52 p.m.

A 17-year-old Augusta Township boy accused of attempting to rob a store and threatening to detonate what he said was a bomb has been arrested, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The boy is accused of attempting to rob the store — in the 2000 block of Washtenaw Avenue, east of Golfside Drive, in Ypsilanti Township Monday — wearing a blond wig and dark mask. When a store employee approached him and asked if he could help him, the boy allegedly “gave the store employee a list of merchandise" and opened his coat, revealing what appeared to be an improvised explosive device, according to the release.

The boy threatened to detonate the bomb if the employee would not give him the listed merchandise, and the employee yelled to his boss to call the police, according to the release.

The boy then said he was just joking, bought some inexpensive merchandise and left the store, according to the release.

Responding sheriff's department deputies noticed a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle description enter a Burger King parking lot, 4800 block of Washtenaw Ave. in Pittsfield Township. Deputies verified the vehicle was in fact the wanted vehicle as it stopped behind the Burger King, according to the release.

Deputies approached the vehicle and took the driver into custody, the release said. Deputies found a potential improvised explosive device in the boy's coat pocket and what the release said was incriminating evidence inside the vehicle.

The Michigan State Police bomb squad responded and determined the device was inert, according to the release.

The 17-year-old was taken to the Washtenaw County Jail. The case will be turned over to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office for review of possible criminal charges, the release said.

Tags: Ypsilanti Township,