MT. PLEASANT, MI -- Over the past year, The Mt. Pleasant Police Department has been investigating multiply reports driving offs, without paying for gas.
On 12/23/2010, officers responded to 910 W. Pickard (Citgo gas station) of a single individual for a gas larceny in progress. The suspect later identified as Benjamin Williams W/M 05/02/1982 of Mt. Pleasant, was pumping gas, when the store manager confronted him.
The store manager recognized Williams and his vehicle from prior gas larcenies at her business. When the manager approached Williams and asked him to stop pumping gas and come inside, he pushed her and grabbed a hold of her arm to get away. He fled the scene in his vehicle at an high rate of speed. Williams returned to the area and watched officers process the crime scene from a distance. Williams was attempting to leave the area when a traffic stop was initiated. Williams was taken into custody with out incident and lodge at the Isabella County Sheriff Department. Information received from citizen witnesses was instrumental in Williams’s arrest.
Williams is believed to be involved with about sixteen other gas larcenies. Williams used six different stolen license plates and three separate vehicles to commit these crimes. Investigators estimate that Williams has stolen $680.00 dollars in gas.
Williams is currently charged with one count of robbery-unarmed, one count of larceny of gas, and one count of assault and battery and was released on a $20,000 dollar bond.
