Tipsters Help Catch Accused Gas Station Robber From Lorain

SHEFFIELD VILLAGE, OH — A Lorain man has been accused of robbing a Sheffield Village gas station, the Department of Justice announced. Police said tips from the public helped investigators identify the suspect.

Evin Ballard, 19, was indicted last week on one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. An indictment said he used a handgun to rob the BP Gas station on July 13, 2019.

At 10 p.m. on July 13, a clerk at BP Gas called police and said the station had just been robbed. The clerk said a white man, whose face was partially covered, pointed a handgun at him and demanded money from the register, court documents said.

The clerk handed over $134 and the man ran out of the store and into a red Dodge Caliber in the parking lot, the indictment said. Officers found eyeglasses at the scene that appeared to be dropped by the suspect.

Police released the gas station's surveillance footage to the media shortly after the robbery. Numerous tipsters called investigators and said the robber appeared to be Ballard, court documents said.

Ballard owned a red Dodge Caliber, police discovered, and wore eyeglasses identical to the ones found outside the gas station, court documents said. On July 15, two days after the robbery, police took Ballard into custody.

The Sheffield Village police led the investigation into Ballard, with assistance from the FBI.