Sheriff's wife maced in credit union holdup

bmickle@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6383

FLINT - Crime hit home Wednesday for Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell.

Pickell's wife, Janet, was blinded by mace and had a pistol pointed at her face Wednesday during a morning credit union robbery.

Janet Pickell was working alone at the Family Community Credit Union inside the Genesys West Building at Beecher Road and Ballenger Highway when a pistol-toting robber announced a hold-up.

The robber reached into a cash drawer and snatched the money, but was followed by Janet Pickell as he tried to leave, police said.

An accomplice waiting outside the credit union shot pepper spray in her face, and the robbers escaped in a gray or white panel van.

The pepper spray burned Janet Pickell's eyes, face and neck, but she is expected to make a full recovery, the sheriff said.

The sheriff said it hit him "like a ton of bricks" when he discovered his wife had been hurt.

"No one is immune. Not the little old lady in Grand Blanc. Not the little old lady on Myrtle. Not even the sheriff's wife," Pickell said.

Pickell said he was in a meeting with Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton when he got a call from a police dispatcher about 11:45 a.m. to meet police at the credit union.

The dispatcher called back moments later and told Pickell his wife had been robbed.

Pickell said he and Leyton immediately drove over, but had no idea Pickell's wife had been hurt until they arrived at the credit union.

"They told me Janet was in the emergency room," Pickell said.

The sheriff said his wife works at the credit union only a day and a half a week, and he had never had concerns about her working there.

"You never think anything like this will happen to you," he said.

Pickell said his wife chased the robber because she was trying to get a better description to give police.

Eyes burning, she managed to make it to a nearby bell and ring for help.

"Everybody reacts differently. Instinct takes over," the sheriff said.

Pickell said his wife was resting at home Wednesday night, but still had redness and burning.

"She can't see worth a darn," he said, adding doctors expect her sight to return to normal.

The sheriff said his emotions are on a roller coaster, going from angry to feeling bad for what his wife endured.

"She was assaulted twice. First they point a gun at her, and then she was maced," he said.

But Pickell said he is confident Flint police will bring the men to justice.

The robber with the pistol was described as a man in his 30s, about 5-foot-6, medium build and clean shaven. He was wearing a dark baseball cap, a yellow and blue flannel shirt, and blue jeans.

The man with the mace is also described as a man in his 30s, about 6-foot-3 with a slim build.

Investigators aren't sure if the robbers fled on Beecher Road or Ballenger Highway.

Police were reviewing surveillance tapes Wednesday night for more information. The FBI is assisting in the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Flint police Sgt. Jeff Fray at (810) 237-6907 or Crimestoppers at (800) 422-JAIL.

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© 2005 Flint Journal. Used with permission