SALEM – Bail for a Saugus man, charged with robbing a local gas station of about $650 two months ago, was set at $10,000 following his arraignment.In Salem Superior Court Wednesday morning, Douglas G. Hurlbert, 51, of 43 School St., Saugus, entered a plea of innocent to charges of armed robbery and larceny over $250, crimes that could net him a potential life sentence in state prison.As jointly agreed by the prosecutor and defense, Judge Timothy Q. Feeley set the bail at $10,000 with the option that the defense may seek a bail review at another court hearing.In the meantime, Hurlbert remains held in lieu of bail at the Middleton Jail.The charges arise out of an incident on the night of Oct. 10 when he allegedly walked into the Super Petroleum Gas Station, located at 1330 Broadway in Saugus, indicating to the clerk he had a weapon while demanding money.The very frightened male clerk turned over about $650 in $20 bills from the cash register and the would-be thief ran from the store and down Felton Street.A video surveillance camera reportedly captured a clear picture of the suspect. A Saugus police officer apparently recognized the suspect as Hurlbert and he was arrested.Hurlbert told police he did not remember what happened because he was taking “klonopins” and sometimes blacks out.He is due back in court on Jan. 14 for a pretrial conference.
