Gas Pump Robber Charged With Hate Crime in Ulster County

A man allegedly assaulted an 84-year-old woman and stole her car while she was pumping gas at a gas station in Ulster County, New York.

It was something she had done a thousand times before but for Shirley Clayton, a normal Tuesday afternoon stop at the local gas station was anything but normal.

It was approximately 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2024, when the New York State Police were dispatched to the Mobil gas station on State Route 209 in the Town of Wawarsing, NY for a report of a stolen vehicle. As troopers arrived on the scene it was apparent that it was much more than that.

Elderly Woman Assaulted While Pumping Gas in Ulster County

Once police arrived on the scene they began a preliminary investigation that revealed 84-year-old Shirley Clayton from Kerhonkson was pumping gas when she was assaulted by a man according to the New York State Troopers. The man allegedly shoved Clayton to the ground entered her car and began going through her purse.

The man later identified as 37-year-old Christopher Doulin, from Lake Katrine, NY was allegedly going through her purse when a patron at the gas station witnessed what was going on and rushed over to try and help the elderly woman. As the patron attempted to remove Doulin he sped away in the woman's 2004 Toyota Corolla.

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Troopers Spot Car

A description of the vehicle quickly went out to police and not soon after troopers spotted the vehicle nearby and attempted to stop it. As troopers attempted to pull Doulin over he reportedly crashed the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. He was apprehended a short distance away from the crash and was immediately arrested.

Arrested & Charged

Once in custody, troopers determined that Doulin was impaired by drugs, had a small amount of cocaine in his possession, and was also wanted on an active bench warrant. Police charged him with 2nd-degree Hate/Crime Robbery, a felony, along with Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Bail Jumping, and Criminal Mischief.

Doulin was arraigned in the Town of Wawarsing Court and remanded to Ulster County Jail without bail.