MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A Memphis man is facing a slew of charges after police say he broke into a gas station Saturday morning on Lamar, knocked over displays, used a broken door handle to try to get through the glass a clerk was standing behind, and demanded money and cigarettes.
Police said Danny Dave Stafford was still inside Dees Oil when they got there. They said he appeared to be intoxicated and refused to drop the door handle, so officers had to use a baton to knock it out of his hand.
Employees say thick, bulletproof glass kept Stafford from getting behind the counter.
Stafford is charged with attempted robbery, resisting arrest, vandalism and public intoxication. Police say he caused around $2,000 worth of damage.
He has no previous criminal record in Shelby County.
Customers were just hearing about it Monday.
“I`m not surprised because of the neighborhood. That’s been going on forever around this neighborhood,” said one man.
Over the last four years, WREG has reported on several incidents at the gas station at Lamar and Bellevue, including two shootings, robberies and a carjacking in the parking lot, and at least one other disturbance inside the store.
