Cops: Gas Station Clerk Fights off Robber

An unarmed gas station clerk on Sunday got slightly cut but successfully fought off a man wielding a box cutter who tried to rob the business, said Norwalk police.

Police said they expect to charge the same man with the recent robbery of a Subway sandwich shop not far away.

Tyrone Tyson, 44, of Union Avenue cut himself in the struggle with the clerk, then fled the scene, according to police, who said they tracked him down by following a trail of blood.

Police gave this account of the incident:

Shortly after midnight on Saturday, the clerk noticed a man enter the convenience store part of Global gas station at 93 Main St. As the clerk rang up purchases from customers, the man paced around near the store ATM and unsuccessfully tried to use an EBT (welfare) card in the ATM.

As the clerk rang up more customers, he didn't notice that the man, Tyson, had walked behind him. When the cash register drawer was open, Tyson drew out the box cutter and demanded that the clerk give him all the money.

The clerk tried to grab Tyson's hand but only got cut. Tyson then tried to cut the clerk and pushed him several times before running away, down Cross Street toward Belden Avenue.

Tyson has been identified as the suspect in the recent robbery of a Subway sandwich shop at 14 Belden Ave. A police detective said his division is confident that they will be able to get an arrest warrant charging Tyson with that crime.

Tyson was charged with second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree robbery. He was held on $150,000 bond pending a Sept. 23 appearance in state Superior Court in Norwalk.