Darren Bradford
By: Mike Koury | C&G Newspapers | Published April 1, 2025 | Updated April 15, 2025 12:36pm
BERKLEY/BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — A Berkley man who had charges in multiple cities for sexual assault now faces more charges in Berkley.
But it was a teen from Grosse Pointe City who first reported that she had been assaulted by the suspect, paving the way for more teens to do the same.
Darren Bradford, 24, was charged Feb. 21 with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct against a 15-year-old Grosse Pointe City girl after an incident at around 5 p.m. Feb. 5 in Bradford’s vehicle, which was parked in the area of Windmill Pointe Drive and Berkshire Road in Grosse Pointe Park. He was arraigned on the two counts Feb. 26 in front of Grosse Pointe Park Municipal Court Judge Carl Jarboe.
“She’s super strong,” Park Public Safety Department Detective Paul Pionk said of the teen. “She was the first one to come forward. Being so strong, she’s inspired others to come forward.”
The Berkley Public Safety Department announced April 4 that Bradford will face seven additional charges for criminal sexual conduct crimes he allegedly committed in the city.
Besides the assault in the Park, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office on April 4 added six new counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
After Bradford’s initial charge, Berkley Detective Lt. Andrew Hadfield stated that several more people contacted the Berkley Public Safety Department in regard to the case. The seven charges are spread across three new victims who came forward, Hadfield said, bringing Bradford’s total in Berkley to eight counts involving four teens who are minors.
“They’re all pretty much similar circumstances where there was either a promise or hinting towards providing alcohol or marijuana or tobacco vape products to minors, and then when those incidents would occur, that there was a sexual assault that would occur in conjunction with that sale or transfer of items,” he said. “Either that was done beforehand or after the incident, but they were all pretty closely tied together when he would meet up with them in regards to those products that he was trying to offer.”
Hadfield said another victim came forward in Bloomfield Township, where Bradford has been charged with three counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The charges state that they involve people within the age bracket of 13-15.
Pionk said Bradford would meet his victims via Snapchat and other social media, and he would “start grooming them” in middle school.
“He’s a classic predator,” Pionk said.
Although Pionk said he doesn’t have reason to believe there are other victims in the Pointes — the Grosse Pointe City victim attended school in Oakland County, where the other victims lived — he wouldn’t be surprised if there are more victims out there.
“At this time, we haven’t had anybody else come forward,” Hadfield said. “We’ve talked to anybody that has come forward and have reviewed their cases, but there’s nobody pending at this time. But obviously, if somebody else needs to come forward, we’re looking at that incident as well.”
Pionk — the father of a teen himself — said it’s difficult to protect young people these days because technology has made it easier for predators to get to them and teens know how to conceal content they don’t want their parents to see.
“You’ve got to have those conversations (with your kids),” Pionk said. “As uncomfortable as it is, you have to do it.”
Bradford has remained in custody in Wayne County after he was arraigned on his charges in Grosse Pointe Park. His Berkley bond has been amended to $250,000, up from $175,000. His next court date is scheduled for May 16.
The Berkley Public Safety Department stated that it has submitted additional potential charges for review to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for distributing marijuana vapes and cartridges, alcohol and nicotine vape products to “numerous different minors from the area and surrounding metro communities.”
Police also asked that if anyone has yet to come forward or has information in regard to this case, to contact the Berkley Public Safety Department at (248) 658-3390.
Bradford’s attorney, Vincent Toussaint, declined to comment on the case at this time.