FRANKLIN, Ind. — An Indianapolis man was arrested Thursday for allegedly robbing an 84-year-old man in Franklin earlier in the week.
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, Franklin Police Department officers responded to the Paris Estates neighborhood for a report of a robbery with injury. There they located an 84-year-old man who said he was assaulted and robbed in his driveway.
The man told police he was hit in the back of his head and kicked before his wallet and large amount of cash were taken. He said no weapons were used during the robbery.
The man suffered minor injures but refused medical attention and provided police with a description of the suspect, who fled the scene, and their car.
Detectives identified the suspect as 58-year-old Michael J. Brown of Indianapolis. On Thursday, Feb. 9, investigators, with assistance from IMPD, located Brown in his car on Indianapolis' east side.
Franklin Police detectives said the victim had been at the Horseshoe casino in Shelbyville earlier that night. He said Brown followed him from the casino to his home. The victim told police when he pulled into his home and got out of his car, Brown approached him and asked for water and directions.
As the victim was talking to Brown, Brown punched him in the back of the head, knocking him on the ground, and kicked him, according to arrest documents. Then, Brown took his wallet, including $6,000 in cash, and drove away.
The victim told detectives he recognized his attacker from playing at the $25 Blackjack table at the casino. He believes Brown followed him home after he saw him win big.
The victim gave police a description of Brown's car, which was used to track him down using the Flock camera system. IMPD officers stopped Brown near 10th Street and Post Road.
Brown was taken into custody without incident and driven to the Franklin Police Department. He was then taken to the Johnson County Jail on a preliminary charge of robbery causing bodily injury, a Level 3 felony.
During questioning, Brown admitted to the robbery and called the victim a "real nice guy," according to arrest documents. He later apologized to detectives and said he was about to be evicted because he was behind on his rent, in addition to having health issues requiring medical procedures.
Brown told detectives the day after the robbery, he paid his landlord more than $4,000 and caught up on other bills.
"This was a targeted attack, and the Franklin Police Department has no reason to believe that there are any further threats to the neighborhood, or Franklin Community," the department said in a written incident release.
