Forensic needle found taped to pump at Stapleton gas station

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STAPLETON, Alabama — Loxley Police are looking for someone they say taped a forensic needle to a pump at a gas station in Stapleton.

They’re not just looking for the person who committed the crime, however. They are also looking for the victim.

Lt. Doug Phillips with the Loxley Police Department said the incident was reported at around 11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 at the Shell Station on Alabama 59 in Stapleton.

“Apparently, the victim told the clerk at the gas station and the clerk called the police department,” Phillips said, “The victim then left the scene, so as of right now, we don’t have a victim in this case.”

Phillips said officers were told that the needle was taped to the nozzle of one of the gas pumps, but when officers arrived on scene, the needle had been removed from the pump and placed in a cup.

“From what we understand, the victim told the clerk they were going to North Baldwin Infirmary (in Bay Minette), but we have not been able to confirm that,” Phillips said. “We would definitely like for the victim to come forward in this case. At the very least this is felony assault and could be worse depending on what is discovered by forensics.”

The needle will be transported to a forensics lab for analysis, Phillips said.

“We will be looking for drugs, DNA, anything like that,” he said. “The main thing we want the public to know is that this is a public safety issue. We just want the public to know that they need to be aware of their surroundings and things like this can happen.”