Holyoke police say gas station owner was assaulted by irate customer

The owner of Crabtree's Service Station, a man in his early 70s, was punched multiple times by an irate customer, Holyoke Police Lt. Larry Cournoyer said.

 

Republican file photo 

HOLYOKE — A man who became irate when a clerk at Crabtree's Service Station didn't know how to honor a discount gas card allegedly assaulted the owner of the Shell gas station Monday night.

Michael Macierowski, 54, was expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Holyoke District Court on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person age 60 or older. Authorities said Macierowksi, who lives in Holyoke but whose street address was unavailable, seriously injured the business owner, an older man in his early 70s.

"He was punched in the face several times," Holyoke Police Lt. Larry Cournoyer said of the owner, who wasn't publicly identified. The man was taken to Holyoke Medical Center for treatment of facial injuries and broken ribs, Cournoyer said.

Police said Macierowski got into an argument with a young clerk at Crabtree's, 1530 Northampton St., at about 8:30 p.m. Monday. When the station owner, who's operated the business for more than 30 years, came to the clerk's defense, Macierowski attacked the owner, according to Cournoyer. "Macierowski was giving the kid a hard time and the owner asked him to leave," Cournoyer said.

The dispute stemmed from Macierowski wanting to use a discount gas card from Stop & Shop, but he didn't have the card with with him Monday evening. "He wanted the clerk to call Stop & Shop," Cournoyer said, adding that Macierowski became angry when the clerk didn't know how to contact supermarket officials to verify that he was a cardholder.

It's unclear if Marcierowski has an attorney. He couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

In March 2012, a 70-year-old employee at Crabtree's successfully fended off a knife-wielding attacker. Police have not indicated if that man is the owner who was assaulted Monday evening.