Suspects arrested for mugging

An assailant attempted to rob a Pizza House delivery person early Saturday morning, marking the third attack on a pizza driver in the past three weeks.

Ann Arbor Police Department officials said the incident, which occurred outside the Mary Markley Residence Hall, was a copycat mugging.

The driver was approached by a man in a ski mask after completing a delivery at approximately 1 a.m. The assailant implied he had a weapon and demanded cash, but the driver did not comply. After the potential victim hollered for help to a nearby group of people, the assailant turned and fled to a pick-up truck occupied by an accomplice.

Witnesses were able to obtain the truck's license plate number and the Washtenaw County Sheriff Department took two Saline men into custody later that night. Ryan Tripp and Anthony Palazzolo were arraigned yesterday on charges of attempted armed robbery, and each could face up to life in prison if convicted.

Suspects have not been arrested in the other two pizza delivery person muggings, but AAPD Sgt. Larry Jerue said it is unlikely that the Saline men were responsible.

"These two fellows may have picked up on the program from the others, but their mode of operation was different," Jerue said. "The other suspects did a bogus delivery call, while the pizza man was robbed this time after a real delivery. This looks like a crime of opportunity."

While pizza drivers said they are concerned about safety, drivers have not considered quitting their lucrative jobs, said Glen Gosine, a manager at Cottage Inn Pizza. Gosine said some experienced drivers can earn up to $35,000 per year.

"Our drivers are very strong men and know danger comes with the job," Gosine said. "But they work a lot making deliveries and know how to handle situations."

Cottage Inn Pizza drivers do not make deliveries unprepared - they are each assigned a shotgun to carry behind their car seat and a can of mace to keep at their side.

"We started doing this four or five months ago when we heard a Domino's truck was stolen," Gosine said. "Company policy says 'it's better safe than sorry.'"

Domino's Pizza takes a different approach to ensure driver safety. Manager Jeremy Nissly said new Domino drivers must take a two-hour safety course to learn the company's policies.

"We don't take cell-phone orders because they are not traceable and confirmable," Nissly said. "Drivers are fired if caught with more than $20 before leaving the store and we don't deliver to dark addresses."

Nissly said Dominos has conducted extensive studies that conclude it's best for drivers to make deliveries unarmed.

"The robber knows he's going to rob a driver, but the driver never knows he's going to be robbed," Nissly said. "If the driver carries a weapon, 99 percent of the time if the weapon is used it will be used against him."

Nissly said Domino's officials urge drivers to follow robbers' orders and hand over their money.

"We have Caller ID, and we will know the phone number and address of the robber," Nissly said. "If they want to go to jail for $10, that's fine with us."

02-03-98