Marathon gas station robber identified; in custody on other robbery charges

Authorities today charged a Birmingham man in connection with the Nov. 13 robbery of the Marathon gas station on U.S. 280 in Hoover.

Michael Valentine Sanders, 41, was identified after surveillance photos from the armed robbery were distributed and Hoover police received a tip about his identity. Around 9:20 p.m. on Nov. 13, Sanders pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the gas station clerk and demanded he open the cash drawer, according to police. Sanders then fled the scene with an undetermined amount of cash.

He got into a late `80s or `90s gold or brown Buick driven by an “older” white male, according to police. The vehicle left the Marathon gas station driving westbound on U.S. 280.

Sanders was charged with robbery from another jurisdiction and is currently in the Jefferson County Jail, where he has been since Nov. 18. He faces a first-degree robbery charge and $60,000 bond in connection to the Marathon gas station robbery. 

Anyone with information about this case, including the identity of the get-away driver, can contact Sgt. Keith Czeskleba at 739-6795 or can anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 254-7777.