Crystal Lake man charged with robbing gas station

A 53-year-old Crystal Lake man is facing multiple charges stemming from an armed robbery at a gas station early Sunday morning.

Crystal Lake police said Dieter M. Bierwith was "involved" with the robbery just before 1 a.m. at the has station on 700 block of South Virginia Road where a man threatened a clerk with a knife and demanded cash. Police said the suspect placed the knife "near the clerk's neck" and threatened the clerk. The suspect forcefully removed the cash drawer and fled on foot.

Later that day, police were called back to the gas station when the clerk recognized a customer who had just entered the building as being involved in the earlier robbery. When police arrived the man fled, but police caught up to him and identified him as Bierwith. Detectives were able to determine Bierwith had been involved in the earlier robbery, police officials said.

Bierwith is charged with armed robbery, commercial burglary, theft and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held at the McHenry County jail awaiting a bond hearing.