Aggravated Robbery? Maybe Not, Police Say

Missouri City police detectives are investigating the “truthfulness” of an aggravated robbery report after the victim was arrested during follow-up questioning.

Around 6:19 p.m. Tuesday, 20-year-old Martin Fassi called 911 and told police that while he was at a stop sign in the 4600 block of Orkney when he was approached by two men offering to sell him drugs. Fassi told police he said no and both men pulled out guns, pointed them in Fassi’s face and told him to get out of the car. Fassi told police he stepped on the gas and took off, then decided to follow one suspect who was running. The other suspect left in a silver car.

Police saw the suspect in the 1300 block of Dulles, and tried to stop him as he ran. According to reports, the suspect threw a blue bag over a bridge into a drainage ditch as he was running. Police allegedly found marijuana in the bag and on the suspect, who was eventually caught. No gun was found.

Byron Philips, a 17-year-old Stafford resident, was arrested and faces a laundry list of charges including aggravated robbery, tampering with evidence, possession of marijuana in a drug-free zone and evading arrest. The second suspect was never found.

The following day a special crimes unit detective was send to Fassi’s apartment for a follow-up interview and found Fassi in the parking lot. The detective asked Fassi if he could speak with him, and Fassi invited the detective into his apartment. According to police, when the detective entered the apartment, he saw a bong on the table and smelled marijuana. According to the police report, when the detective asked Fassi how much marijuana was in the apartment and Fassi said not much, because he smokes a lot of it.

Fassi allegedly turned over the marijuana to the detective and was placed under arrest for possession. Police are now reviewing the original aggravated robbery complaint “to determine if all parties are being truthful.”