Game Stop Robbery Leads to Indictment of Middletown Man

A Middletown man was indicted this week after allegedly robbing Game Stop in Holmdel in May by showing a handgun.

Michael Crupi, 36, of Linden Avenue is charged with armed robbery, theft of movable property and the unlawful possession of a weapon after allegedly entering Game Stop demanding money and showing a handgun on May 7, before fleeing the scene via Route 35. 

This marks Crupi's second armed robbery charge in Monmouth County,after being charged with the robbery of Bevacqua's Deli in May. Then, Crupi allegedly pointed a gun at the bakery owner, Peter Patel, demanded cash of his Patel's wife at the register, and took off with $500, according to police. 

At that time, Crupi was also linked to two armed robberies in Staten Island. One at another Game Stop, and another at a separate bakery.

On April 11 of this year, Crupi was arrested by Det. Laurence Schachtel on charges of possession of crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Crupi is currently in the Monmouth County Jail with added and unrelated charges of endangering the welfare of a child and possession of a controlled dangerous substance out of Millstone Township.

An indictment does not indicate absolute guilt or a conviction. It only means that a county grand jury found there was enough evidence to proceed with a prosecution. Guilt or innocence will be tried and determined in a court of law.