DEARBORN — On Thursday, September 12, two men were arrested by Dearborn Police for allegedly robbing the Marathon Gas Station at 23645 Ford Road, in west Dearborn, this past July, using bug spray as their weapon of choice.

Joe Fawaz, 19, and Collin Kyle Peterson, 21, were arraigned at the 19th District Court for armed robbery.  They allegedly robbed the gas station on the morning of July 13, at 5:15 a.m. The two men confronted a clerk with bug spray and were able obtain $500 dollars in cash, along with 17 lottery tickets that only amounted to about $15 in winnings. 

One of the men allegedly sprayed the bug spray at the clerk, while the other allegedly obtained the cash and lottery tickets. Dearborn Police was immediately notified after the incident, but the two men had already fled the scene. 

The Marathon gas station located on Ford Rd., east of Telegraph.

Investigators were able to track down the two men, after they contacted the State Lottery Commission.  Police were able to trace where they had cashed the lottery tickets. After their arrests last week, Fawaz was released on $50,000 bail, with a 10 percent cash bond. Peterson, who complied with the investigation, was given a lighter bail, at $10,000, with a 10 percent cash bond.

The Law Office of Cyril C. Hall,  representing Fawaz in the case, is aiming to have their client be charged under juvenile offense, if he is found guilty.

“We contend that our client is not guilty of this particular offense. But assuming, for the sake of argument, that there was some involvement, hopefully the prosecutors will recognize that this was slightly more than just a childhood prank and treat this matter as such,” Attorney Amir Makled, from the law office, told The Arab American News (TAAN).  “These youngsters shouldn’t be saddled with a life offense for committing an act where there was no intention to cause an injury to the victim. Because of the juvenile nature, surrounding the facts of this case, we feel it should result in a lighter sentencing.”

The defense will argue that there was no threat of injury against the clerk, because the two men used bug spray as their weapon of choice, as opposed to a gun. A hearing for the case was scheduled at the 19th District Court on Friday, September 20.  TAAN will provide an update on the case in coming weeks.