Man Twists Gas Station Employee's Arm, Steals $300: Prosecutor

CHICAGO RIDGE, IL — A man is accused of strong-arming a gas station employee during a robbery and then making crank calls to police. Aish Ayyash, 33, of Oak Lawn, appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on felony charges of robbery and filing false police reports. .

Around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 13, the prosecutor said a man, later identified as Ayyash, walked into the Thornton’s Gas at 105th Street and Harlem Avenue in Chicago Ridge. An employee running the cash register told police she waited for Ayyash to make a purchase when she heard a noise behind her. Ayyash allegedly twisted the employee’s arm behind her back and ordered her to open the cash register. After grabbing $300 from the drawer, the prosecutor said Ayyash ran across Harlem Avenue to the motels. Police said both incidents were captured on security video.

Ayyash was seen running into a motel room, the prosecutor said. At 11:41 p.m., Worth police received a 911 call reportedly traced to the room where Ayyash was staying. Another call was received a minute past midnight.

The prosecutor said Ayyash has past felony convictions for armed robbery in 2007 and possession of a controlled substance in 2012.

Bail was set at $25,000 for each count. Ayyash is due back in court Nov. 12 in Bridgeview.