Police arrest man for allegedly robbing White Castle, sideswiping vehicle

FERNDALE — A 64-year-old Detroit man was arrested last week for allegedly robbing a fast food restaurant earlier this month in Ferndale.

Police said Ricky Crowder was arrested Feb. 15 for allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars from a White Castle.

According to the Ferndale Police Department, it received a report at approximately 1:31 p.m. Feb. 7 of an armed robbery at the establishment, located at 21400 Woodward Ave.

Ferndale Police Department Public Information Officer Jill Mahlmeister stated that Crowder allegedly entered the restaurant and threatened the cashier with a weapon, though one was never shown or presented.

“He had threatened that he possessed a weapon as he held his right hand in his coat pocket,” Mahlmeister said. “(Approximately) $200 was turned over to the suspect, who fled the restaurant on foot. No one was injured during that robbery. Additional witnesses observed the suspect enter a silver SUV that was parked in the lot, and they obtained a partial license plate and observed the vehicle fleeing northbound on Woodward Avenue.”

After the robber fled the scene, police were called and began canvassing the area. During the search, police discovered a hit-and-run crash had occurred at Eight Mile Road and Woodward Avenue.

Mahlmeister said a vehicle, described as a silver SUV, had sideswiped another vehicle and fled the scene westbound on Eight Mile from Woodward. No one was injured in the crash, according to police.

A press release from Ferndale police stated that investigators utilized several law enforcement databases, including Flock Safety from the city of Detroit, to assist with identifying Crowder’s vehicle. Police had the partial plate to go on, and more.

“We also had surveillance footage from the restaurant as well,” Mahlmeister said. “Then they started utilizing different law enforcement databases to find a vehicle that matched that description.”

The case was presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, which authorized an arrest warrant for Crowder. The Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force reportedly arrested Crowder without incident at his home Feb. 15. Police did not recover a weapon during the investigation.

Crowder was arraigned in the 43rd District Court Feb. 16. He was charged with one count of felony armed robbery. He was given a $250,000 cash bond. His next scheduled court date is 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23.

It was unclear at press time if Crowder had an attorney.