A St. Joseph man allegedly tried to steal a man’s vehicle at gunpoint who stopped to help him after a crash.

Michael McNish, 27 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony of second-degree robbery.

According to court documents, Friday in the 4100 block of Picket Road officers with the St. Joseph Police Department responded to what was initially reported as an accident only to begin investigating a robbery.

“Officers were able to determine that the defendant had wrecked a vehicle at that location that he had earlier stolen,” said Det. Frank Till with the St. Joseph Police Department. “When a passerby, not knowing that it was anything more then an accident, stopped to assist the defendant, the defendant then jumped in the vehicle of the passerby and attempted to steal it.”

Till said a struggle ensued and McNish wrecked that vehicle while the victim was trying to prevent him from leaving in his car.

“He had a loaded handgun on him when he tried to steal this victim’s vehicle and was threatening the victim with the use of the weapon,” Till said. “The defendant is a suspect in two separate carjackings.”

McNish is currently being held on $25,000 cash only bail.  He’s due in court Tuesday for an arraignment.