Published: February 14, 2006 10:58 pm         

Clerk in court on warrant for conspiracy to commit robbery

A Terre Haute man who worked as a clerk for a BP gas station was arrested Friday for allegedly staging a robbery.

Alexander W. Zelch, 18, appeared Monday in Vigo County Superior Court Division 1 on a warrant for conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

On Jan. 5, Zelch called Timothy A. Domke, 18, from a BP gas station on Wabash Avenue and told Domke that his manager was gone and it was “clear to come to the station,” according to the affidavit for probable cause.

Police said Domke entered the gas station with a handgun and stole money and three cartons of cigarettes.

The cigarette rack had been pulled down, which blocked the view of the suspect from the surveillance camera, according to allegations in court records.

Police said Domke got into a car driven by David G. McKenzie Jr., 18, of Terre Haute. Zelch received a carton of cigarettes for his help in the scheme, according to court documents.

Police learned that Domke and Zelch participated in the robbery from the suspects’ friends and acquaintances, whom had been told the scheme was “foolproof,” according to court documents.

Domke and McKenzie were arrested last week and charges were filed Friday.

Domke was held Tuesday in the Vigo County jail with bail at $50,000 and did not return a call for comment. Zelch and McKenzie posted 10 percent of their $5,000 bail and were released from jail. They could not be reached for comment Tuesday.