Interesting, bizarre crime briefs from Oakland County in 2024

Property stolen from Novi vehicle recovered in Livonia
NOVI — A blue backpack containing an IBM ThinkPad laptop computer, miscellaneous flash drives, a digital camera with a case, and a leather wallet containing three credit cards, a debit card and a Michigan driver’s license was recovered in Livonia after being taken from a woman’s unlocked 2019 Ford Escape in Novi at around 10 p.m. Jan. 5.

Livonia police contacted the woman’s boyfriend the next day, after the property had been recovered at 8:30 a.m. According to the report, Livonia police had been sent to an apartment complex in the area of Seven Mile and Haggerty roads for a welfare check after a man was seen lying on the ground. The man was in possession of the property, which he admitted was not his. He was later taken into custody by Livonia police for receiving and concealing stolen property. 

Police determined that the suspect likely had been released from Ascension Providence Hospital-Novi, walked down Beck Road and later made his way to Livonia. The man told Livonia police that he is homeless. 

Livonia police said that while in the lockup, the man made unsolicited statements after being asked for his phone number. “I don’t know my phone number. I lost it (phone) in one of the cars I was breaking into,” he said, according to the police report. 

Livonia police indicated that other property was recovered as well, including two sets of AirPods and a Leapfrog reader that was new in the box. Novi police asked victims of similar vehicle larcenies if the items belonged to them, but no one claimed them. Novi and Livonia police said they would keep in contact and update the other if there were any changes.

Detroit woman accused of attacking 10-year-old at Somerset
TROY — A 25-year-old Detroit woman was arrested for allegedly assaulting a 10-year-old girl inside Somerset Collection in Troy.

The incident occurred at 4:43 p.m. Jan. 12. The girl’s family said she was at the food court with a parent and a group of friends when an unknown woman grabbed onto her head and pushed her into a nearby glass display case. The girl’s family said it appeared unprovoked and for no apparent reason, and that the suspect laughed and smiled at the victim following the assault.

The suspect was caught on security camera during the incident. She left the mall prior to the authorities being notified, but she was taken into custody when she returned to the mall the following day.

Drunken driver hits fire hydrant
BERKLEY — A 36-year-old Berkley man was arrested for operating while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of 0.17% or more at 1:47 a.m. Jan. 12 in the 1800 block of Griffith Avenue, off 11 Mile Road west of Coolidge Highway.

According to the report, police were called to the area for a report of a vehicle that had struck a fire hydrant and then parked in a driveway on Griffith at an unknown address with its hazard lights activated.

Police reportedly detected a strong odor of intoxicants as they made contact with the driver, who said he had no injuries. The man claimed to have had three drinks, police said, he had trouble communicating and he had difficulty while taking sobriety tests.

The man submitted a breath test of 0.291% blood alcohol content, more than three times the legal limit, and police arrested him.

Family confronts burglar
SOUTHFIELD — Police were contacted after an unknown man broke into a home in the 26000 block of Franklin Pointe Drive at 6:49 p.m. Jan. 17. The man gained entry through the window and climbed into the home. A resident verbally confronted the suspect, who refused to leave. Family members pushed the unknown man out of the home, and the police apprehended him.

Customer allegedly exposes himself to UberEats driver
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to the 3900 block of Rochester Road for an indecent exposure complaint at 4:42 p.m. Jan. 19. An UberEats driver making a delivery from Chili’s to the Fairfield Inn went to the hotel room, and an older man answered the door. The man took the food, and then told the driver, 45, to wait as he went to get a tip. 

The suspect then opened the door, revealing that he was naked from the waist down. The suspect did not say anything and acted like everything was normal. 

The incident occurred on Jan. 12 and was reported Jan. 19. The hotel clerk was unable to provide the information for the person renting the room and stated the manager should be able to provide that information later. Police were investigating.

Woman loitering in driveway arrested with loaded semi-automatic gun 
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — Deputies responded to the 2000 block of Victoria Hill in reference to a suspicious vehicle in a driveway at 2:28 p.m. Jan. 28. The complainant stated a neighbor had informed him that a white Toyota had been parked in his driveway for 45 minutes.

Upon arrival, deputies found the vehicle with a female occupant, a 46-year-old woman from Columbus, Ohio. She first claimed to be waiting for a real estate agent to show her an outbuilding on the property. When she was informed that there was no outbuilding, she claimed to be from a secret government agency. A loaded semi-automatic handgun was discovered on the passenger seat. Police said she had no valid permit to carry the weapon.

The woman was arrested and was lodged at the Oakland County Jail for a concealed weapons violation. The vehicle was impounded.

Thief allegedly steals Pokémon cards worth $10,000
BERKLEY — The Berkley Public Safety Department was called to assist in an arrest for retail fraud at 8:49 p.m. Jan. 25 at 2666 Coolidge Highway.

According to the report, officers were sent to Collectible Investments to help Clinton Township police take a first-degree retail fraud suspect into custody. The suspect, a 27-year-old Mount Clemens man, allegedly stole $10,000 worth of Pokémon cards.

Clinton Township police advised Berkley officers that the suspect had walked into a business in the township and stole a black binder containing the cards before fleeing the location. The owner of the business called other stores in the area and confirmed that the suspect was at Collectible Investments.

Dispatchers forwarded a description of the suspect while police arrived at Collectible Investments. Officers walked in and observed the suspect sitting at a table speaking with an employee appraising the cards.

Officers identified the suspect and placed him under arrest. A search of the suspect’s person revealed the remaining stolen property contained in a blue plastic grocery bag in his right front jacket pocket.

Berkley public safety officers traveled to a 7-Eleven at 11 Mile and Dequindre roads and handed over the suspect to Clinton Township police.

Drunken driver blames police car’s lights for swerving
NOVI — A Novi police officer on patrol pulled over a driver after his Honda Accord was swerving on Nine Mile Road, near Mill Road, at 12:37 a.m. Feb. 2. 

The officer pulled over the vehicle on Haggerty Road, near 10 Mile Road. As the officer was attempting to stop the car, it swerved several more times, according to the report. When the officer asked the driver why he was swerving, the driver said that the lights of the patrol car were so bright that he was swerving to attempt to get the lights off his mirrors.

The officer said he noticed the driver swerving prior to initiating the stop and engaging the emergency lights. The driver said that the headlights from the patrol vehicle were what caused him to swerve. 

Police noted a strong smell of intoxicants on the driver’s breath and wrote in the police report that he had glassy eyes, and slow and lethargic movements, as well as slurred speech. The driver claimed to have had two beers, the last one an hour prior to taking the wheel.  

During field sobriety tests, the driver was asked to rank his level of intoxication from zero to 10, with zero being sober and 10 being thoroughly intoxicated. The driver reportedly gave himself a four. The man was arrested and taken to the Novi Police Department, where he was given an Intoxilyzer test that measured his blood alcohol content at 0.122%.  He was held until he was sober and then released with a court date, according to police. 

Restaurant customer gets punched in the face
BIRMINGHAM — Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of East Merrill Street regarding a report of disturbance at 11 p.m. Feb. 3. 

A 34-year-old Shelby Township man told police that while he was sitting at a table in the restaurant, a suspect approached him and, without provocation, began punching him in the face. An investigation was ongoing.

Man’s boss arrested after reportedly breaking into employee’s home, assaulting him
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to the 100 block of Fontainbleau Court for an assault and home invasion at 7:47 a.m. Feb. 4. A man told police he had texted his boss, who pays a portion of his rent directly out of his landscaping paycheck, to let the boss know there was a text about owing the rent. The boss then allegedly went to the man’s home, kicked in the front door and assaulted him. Deputies located the suspect, a 53-year-old man from Rochester Hills, a few houses away from the victim’s house, and he was arrested for home invasion and assault and battery. He was lodged at the Oakland County Jail.

Woman accused of threatening man with boxcutter in road rage incident
FARMINGTON — Around 11 a.m. Feb. 13, officers were dispatched to the area of Grand River Avenue and Halsted Road for a fight in progress. 

Officers arrived and found a man and a woman in a verbal argument that had stemmed from a road rage argument on M-5. Officers learned that the 29-year-old woman had obtained a box cutter and swung it at the man in an attempt to injure him. She was arrested for felonious assault and was lodged for arraignment. The man did not suffer any injuries. The case was forwarded on to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Officer for a warrant request.

Women take off in man’s car
SOUTHFIELD — A man told police that he met two women and invited them back to his place around 1:51 a.m. Feb. 14. 

He left the women unattended in his 2019 Ford Escape while he ran back into an establishment in the 20000 block of Sherman Avenue to retrieve his coat. 

When he went back outside, the women and the car were gone. 

Man escapes gunmen by jumping from balcony
SOUTHFIELD — At 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21, a man went back to his apartment in the 23000 block of Riverside Drive after a night out. 

When he entered the apartment, he discovered individuals he had met the night before inside his home. The suspects held him at gunpoint and began arguing with one another. 

The man was able to escape by running out the back door and jumping from his balcony. 

The suspects left and were apprehended soon after with the help of identification through video footage. 

Man threatens Kroger employees during robbery
BIRMINGHAM —  On Feb. 24 at 9:47 p.m., a Kroger employee called police about an armed robbery at their Maple and Woodward location. It was reported that a 35-year-old male suspect had stolen a prepaid cellphone and pulled a pistol from his waistband, threatening to harm employees when he was confronted.

According to a press release, he exited the store and walked toward Woodward through the rear parking lot.

A Birmingham sergeant, who was already on foot patrol, saw the suspect and shared his path of travel with other officers. Officers found the suspect in the bushes along the brick wall on the east side of the Flagstar Bank parking lot. After obstructing and resisting officers, he was taken into custody. 

An airsoft pistol and the stolen cellphone were found in the bushes where he had been hiding. He was to remain in custody until his arraignment.

Drunken driver crashes
HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, a 50-year-old Warren man drove a gray 2013 Chevy Traverse off the roadway at John R and Sonoma roads at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 27, striking a building. 

The driver had a blood alcohol content level of 0.157. He was taken to a hospital and issued citations for operating while intoxicated. 

The investigation was ongoing.

Attempted automobile theft suspect flees security officer
SOUTHFIELD — A security officer approached an individual inside a 2012 Hyundai Sonata to see if they needed help after the alarm went off at 7:27 p.m. on March 1 in the 16000 block of West Nine Mile Road. 

The suspect ran from the security officer as the officer approached the car, and the officer then noticed damage to the vehicle and contacted the police.

Mother leaves 3-year-old alone in unlocked car to steal Stanley cups with brother, boyfriend
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Police were dispatched to the parking lot of Dick’s Sporting Goods at 2105 S. Telegraph Road for a report of a small child left unattended in a parked vehicle at approximately 2 p.m. March 2. 

Officers located the vehicle and child, a 3-year-old girl. Shortly after, the mother returned to the car and admitted to leaving the child in the unlocked vehicle while she went into the store with her brother and boyfriend. 

During the officer’s interaction with the mother, the reporting party advised that he had witnessed the brother and boyfriend exit the store carrying a backpack and place it behind a parked SUV in an attempt to conceal it. The backpack was recovered and determined to have been stolen from Dick’s Sporting Goods. Inside the backpack were four stolen Stanley mugs. 

A search of the vehicle recovered 10 additional stolen Stanley mugs. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods was able to confirm that all of the recovered items were the property of the store. The suspects were all identified and released from the scene. Charges were pending.

Suspect breaks into Subway only to find empty cash register
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — At approximately 8 a.m. March 3, police were dispatched to Subway, 1619 S. Opdyke Road, for a burglary that occurred early that morning at approximately 5:30 a.m. The unknown suspect smashed the glass door and is seen on video surveillance removing the cash register from the counter. 

The register opened in the suspect’s hands, and coupons fell out. There was no cash in the register.

The suspect left the cash register on the ground and fled. The case was being investigated by the Bloomfield Township Investigations Unit. 

$50,000 in cash, diamond ring stolen from apartment
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies were dispatched to 100 block of Woodview Court for a report of a home invasion at 10:30 p.m. March 7. Dispatchers advised police that the homeowners had already gone through the residence, and no one was located. 

Upon arrival, deputies met with the victims. Their daughter told police that her parents’ apartment had been broken into. The owners of the apartment, a 63-year-old woman and a 66-year-old man, had left around 9:30 a.m. to go to work and returned home the same day around 10:30 p.m. The victims went upstairs and noticed their bedroom had been ransacked and noticed the back door wall was open. The victims did not notice anything else out of place and began looking in the bedroom for missing items.

The daughter told police approximately $50,000 in cash that was in a navy backpack was missing, along with a silver and diamond ring. Detectives were investigating.

Uber driver accused of punching passenger
BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 10 a.m. March 15, officers were dispatched to the Birmingham Police Department lobby for an assault report.

A 78-year-old Auburn Hills woman told them that on March 14 she was taking an Uber to her desired location, and shortly into the ride, the driver, a 27-year-old Detroit woman, began driving recklessly. 

The passenger asked the driver to let her out of the vehicle. 

The passenger said that after she exited the vehicle, the driver punched her in the back of the head. An investigation was ongoing.

Burglar alarm triggered at law office, art stolen
TROY — Police officers were called to the Hannawa Hirmiz Law Offices, located at 2909 E. Big Beaver Road, at 3:32 a.m. March 16 after a burglar alarm was triggered. 

Upon arrival, officers found the front glass door smashed and a second glass interior door smashed. Officers spoke with the business owner, who reported that the only item of note missing was a piece of art from the wall.

Resident reports threat
WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 20, a woman in her 70s went to the West Bloomfield Police Department to report an alleged threat.

The resident reported that an unknown male from “Ride Assistant” picked her up from outside of her home to take her to a doctor’s appointment in West Bloomfield.

After the two reportedly got into an argument, the driver had her exit his vehicle before arriving at her appointment, leaving her to walk the rest of the way.

Just before she went into the doctor’s office, the male reportedly showed up in the parking lot and yelled threats at her.

No further information was provided.

Woman arrested after church member allegedly assaulted, purse stolen
TROY — Police were sent to St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, 3603 Livernois Road, at 2:03 p.m. April 1 for reports of an assault. 

Officers spoke with a woman who said that the church had been providing money to the woman to help get her affairs in order under the agreement that she repay the funds. 

The suspect went to the church and asked to have coffee with the victim. While the victim was making coffee, the suspect allegedly grabbed the victim’s purse and ran out of the church. The victim followed her outside in an attempt to get her purse back, but the suspect pushed her to the ground, police said. The suspect then entered a cab and attempted to leave the scene but was stopped by multiple people and was kept at the location until police arrived. 

The suspect, a 39-year-old woman from Royal Oak, was arrested and transported to the Troy Police Department  lockup facility, where she was charged with unarmed robbery.

Woman arrested for B&E at commercial building
FARMINGTON — Police were dispatched to the 33000 block of Freedom on a report of a suspicious person near a commercial building at 9 p.m. April 10. 

Officers met with the reporting party, who gave officers a description of the suspicious person. Officers checked the area and found no one, but they did discover a propped-open door on the building.

Officers made entry and found one individual inside who did not have permission to be there. Officers arrested the suspect, a 27-year-old woman, for breaking and entering. The case was forwarded on to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

Man on narcotics barricades himself inside house, threatens others
OAKLAND TOWNSHIP — Deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Dogwood Drive for a trouble call at 6 a.m. April 12. 

A third party, who was not at the scene, reported that one of the occupants of the residence, a 36-year-old Farmington Hills man, had barricaded himself and was threatening others in the residence.

Deputies contacted one of the occupants through a back window and discovered he was heavily under the influence of narcotics. He stated that he and a female were being held against their will by another male in the residence, and he was assisted in climbing out of the back window. 

Police entered the residence, and the suspect and female resident were secured and were turned over to the Oakland Township Detective Bureau.

Further investigation revealed that heavy narcotics use had led to the call. All parties involved declined to press charges. One occupant of the address was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant, and the others were referred to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit for assistance with substance abuse.

Woman arrested for drunken driving after kids found alone at hotel
TROY — The security staff at Detroit Marriott Troy, 200 W. Big Beaver Road, called police for three young children in the lobby who were unable to find their mother around 12:10 a.m. April 13. 

Officers spoke with the children, who said they had been at the nearby Kona Grill with the mother. They believed she was intoxicated, and they did not feel safe driving back with her. When they got back to the hotel, the mother advised them she was going outside to smoke, and the children contacted hotel staff when she did not return. 

Employees at Kona Grill also contacted police with concerns about the children’s safety due to the mother’s apparent intoxication. 

Officers located the mother driving a 2017 Buick SUV westbound on Big Beaver Road from Livernois and initiated a traffic stop. She was asked to exit the vehicle, and officers noted she was unsteady on her feet, had slurred speech, and her eyes were bloodshot and glassy. 

She did poorly on several sobriety evaluations and refused to submit to a preliminary breath test. The driver, 44, from Southfield, was arrested. She refused to take a breath test, and a search warrant for a blood draw was granted. 

The case was turned over to the Detective Bureau for appropriate warrants once the blood results were returned.

Woman steals beer, baby wipes
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — A woman stole beer and baby wipes from a drugstore in the 6500 block of Telegraph Road at 6:45 p.m. April 15. According to reports, a woman loaded two 12-pack cases of Stella Artois beer, two six-packs of Stella Artois beer, and one pack of Huggies baby wipes into a cart and left the store without paying. The suspect was seen loading the merchandise into a U-Haul box truck before leaving the parking lot. Police were investigating. 

Victim drives suspect’s vehicle to police station to file report
SOUTHFIELD — A man stated that he was approached by an unknown male in the 26000 block of Telegraph Road at 7:31 a.m. April 27. The victim perceived that he was being robbed and noticed that the suspect had left his vehicle running with the door open. The victim got into the vehicle and drove it to the police station to file a report.

Driver hits light pole, flees
KEEGO HARBOR — On May 2, at approximately 4:25 a.m., an unknown driver reportedly struck a city light pole in Keego Harbor, near the corner of Beachland and Cass Lake Road.

“Did anyone happen to notice a neighbor, family member or friend’s car with a great deal of front-end damage? The vehicle was most likely a Volkswagen sedan,” a Facebook post from the Keego Police Department states.

The driver reportedly drove the vehicle over a curb and onto a sidewalk, “several feet off the roadway,” the post states.

The incident reportedly “completely” destroyed the pole.

Drone helps find lost man
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies became aware that a man was disoriented/lost and in medical distress at 1:04 a.m. May 3. Live911 indicated the subject was inside Flynn Park and Sanctuary Lake Golf Course in Troy. 

Troy police were also made aware of the incident. The first deputy to hear the Live911 transmission immediately deployed a drone to search the area for the subject. A heat signature was quickly found. Deputies and officers from the Troy Police Department began to search the wooded area with guidance from the drone operator. Information was also received that the subject’s phone was “pinging” to the same area being checked. 

The subject was found in a densely wooded area along a fence line, between the golf course and Troy Beaumont Hospital. The subject, a 43-year-old man from Shelby Township, was transported to the hospital for treatment.

Waterford man points toy gun at people
BIRMINGHAM — On May 5 at approximately 3 p.m., officers were dispatched to North Old Woodward and Harmon for an individual in the street waving a fake gun at people. 

They found the suspect, a 58-year-old man from Waterford, standing near a restaurant in the 500 block of North Old Woodward. 

Police recovered a green-and-red toy gun in a search of the man, and they noticed signs that he was intoxicated. Multiple witnesses at the scene reported seeing the suspect point the toy gun and a phone at passing people and vehicles and pretend to shoot. The suspect was arrested and issued a citation for disorderly conduct.

Toothpaste stolen from CVS
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 7 a.m. and 7:10 a.m. May 8, an unknown person stole two tubes of toothpaste from the CVS on Woodward Avenue.

Woman steals brass lion’s head from hotel
BIRMINGHAM — Officers were dispatched to a hotel in the 100 block of Townsend for a reported theft on May 13 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

A witness informed hotel personnel that he had seen a woman with two males take a small brass lion’s head that was affixed to the hotel’s front wall and walk toward a vehicle parked on Henrietta Street. Officers observed the lion’s head in the vehicle’s front passenger seat. Two men returned to the vehicle, and officers stopped them at Henrietta and Merrill. After initially denying knowing the woman or how the lion had ended up in their vehicle, the men admitted that she is a business associate and that she had taken the lion after they all had dinner in Birmingham that evening. 

The vehicle’s owner, a 46-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, was charged with concealing stolen property. The woman, a 43-year-old from Bloomfield Hills, said that she had seen the lion’s head on the ground and picked it up. She was charged with larceny.

Fake Barbra Streisand texts results in gift card scam
TROY — A resident reportedly was contacted via text by an unknown subject claiming to be Barbra Streisand around May 19. 

The subject informed the resident that she had won $10,000 for being Barbra’s biggest fan. The victim was instructed to send $800 in Apple gift cards to pay the taxes. 

After purchasing the gift cards, the victim provided the card numbers and codes to the subject over text message before realizing it was a scam.

Boyfriend returns to empty home following eviction
SOUTHFIELD — A man who had moved in with his girlfriend’s family on Lahser Road returned May 22 to the home to find that the residents had been evicted and the family members had taken his TV, clothes, PlayStation 5 and laptop. 

Man crashes car in driveway with unsecured 3-year-old in front seat
ROCHESTER HILLS — A deputy traveling on Walton Boulevard observed a vehicle, front end first, at the end of a residential driveway that appeared to be waiting to exit onto Walton Boulevard at 12:42 p.m. June 1. The deputy saw a 3-year-old boy in the front passenger seat of the vehicle not in a car seat or wearing a seat belt. 

When the driver, a 35-year-old man from Rochester Hills, made eye contact with the deputy, the man placed his vehicle into reverse and accelerated quickly up the driveway. As the driver accelerated, the deputy watched the child’s body launch into the dashboard/windshield of the vehicle. The vehicle continued rapidly up the driveway and crashed into the carport area of the home, causing damage to a barbecue grill and several other objects in its path.

The deputy drove up the driveway to the vehicle that had come to rest after the crash. The driver refused to exit the vehicle and was removed and secured. The child was also located and checked. The driver was evaluated by a drug recognition expert and was arrested for operating while intoxicated and child endangerment. 

He was taken to a local hospital for a blood draw and was lodged at the Oakland County Jail. The child’s mother was at the scene and refused medical treatment for the child.

Vehicle drives through multiple backyards
TROY — A vehicle was reported to be driving through the backyards of several residences along Hamlet Drive at 6:35 p.m. June 4. When officers arrived, they were advised that the driver had used a driveway to enter the backyard area of homes on Hamlet and had driven through the area, causing minor damage to the lawns, a tree and an underground downspout pipe. 

Officers located the vehicle, which was parked back on the roadway, with the driver standing outside it. Upon speaking to the driver, a 63-year-old Troy man, officers noted he had difficulty maintaining his balance, his speech was very slurred and there was a strong odor of intoxicants emanating from him. 

The driver was asked to perform several sobriety evaluations, and officers noted he performed poorly. He submitted to a preliminary breath test, with a result of a 0.20% blood alcohol content. 

The driver was arrested. He refused to take a chemical breath test, so a search warrant to complete the blood draw was prepared and granted. He was charged with operating while intoxicated, third offense, and driving on a suspended or revoked license, second offense. 

Gunman knocks on hotel door
SOUTHFIELD — At 1:30 p.m. July 11, a guest heard a knock on the door of her hotel room in the 27000 block of Northwestern Highway. 

When the guest opened the door, there was a man with a gun pointing at her. 

The guest ran out of the room and to the front desk, and the gunman fled the area. Nothing was taken and no one was injured during the incident.

Man reportedly jumps out second-story window to escape police
NOVI — Police officers were called to a residence on Whittler Trail, near 13 Mile and Novi roads, for a domestic violence issue at 4:24 p.m. July 20. 

According to a police report, while officers were at the residence, a man jumped off a second-story balcony in an attempt to flee.  

Officers began running after him. An officer yelled at the man to stop running and informed him that additional officers were on their way. At that point, another officer stopped a patrol vehicle in the middle of the roadway and arrested the man. According to the report, the pursuit lasted for just under a minute and was approximately 820 feet in length.

The man was charged with domestic assault and battery, resisting and obstructing, interfering with 911, and malicious destruction of property for damaging an $80 screen. He was taken to the Novi Police Department.

Sewer drain cover stolen from Brinston Park
TROY — A city employee reported that, between Aug. 3 at 10 p.m. and Aug. 4 at 7:30 a.m., an unknown suspect stole a sewer drain cover from the parking lot of Brinston Park, located at 2250 Brinston St.

Motorcyclist reportedly hits 130 mph before arrest
ROYAL OAK — A motorcyclist was arrested in Royal Oak Aug. 8 after allegedly speeding at more than 130 mph on Interstate 94 and 100 mph on Interstate 75. The Michigan State Police had tried to stop the motorcyclist and reportedly tracked the motorcyclist from the sky in a helicopter and took a video of the whole incident. The incident began on I-94 in Dearborn near the Wyoming Avenue exit and ended when the driver pulled into downtown Royal Oak and Royal Oak police were able to pull him over.

Suspects wait for police to leave, steal clothing
BIRMINGHAM — An officer was dispatched to a clothing store in the 100 block of South Old Woodward around 7 p.m. Aug. 13 for a retail fraud. The store manager reported that two females in their mid-20s had entered the store while police were there investigating a theft that had happened 30 minutes earlier. The suspects walked around the store until officers left, and then they began creating piles of merchandise. One suspect left the store, and moments later, the other suspect ran out the door with a pile of clothes valued at more than $1,650 and into a waiting vehicle. The vehicle recklessly drove away, heading north on Old Woodward. An investigation was ongoing. 

Drunken man crashes car trying to flee from police
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — A 31-year-old man from Bloomfield Township was arrested after reportedly crashing his car fleeing from police while driving drunk with no license.

Bloomfield Township police were dispatched to a possible drunk driver in a white Toyota Tacoma heading north on Telegraph, from Lone Pine Road, at approximately 12:50 a.m. Aug. 17. 

Officers saw the car on Telegraph, near Square Lake road, and attempted to stop the vehicle, which was reportedly crossing over all lanes of traffic and traveling at speeds over 100 mph. As the suspect neared Humphrey Avenue, police said, his vehicle struck a curb, drove over the center median into the southbound lanes, drove into a ditch, and then crashed into a tree. The suspect, who exited the vehicle, was ordered to the ground by officers, but reportedly took off running. He was taken into custody shortly after and reportedly smelled of intoxicants. He had a small baggie of pills on him that police suspect to be oxycodone.

A breath sample taken at the Bloomfield Township Police Department reportedly showed a 0.153% blood alcohol content. 

The driver was arraigned at the 52-1 District Court and was charged with second-degree fleeing and eluding, resisting and obstructing, operating while intoxicated and driving without a license. He was issued an $8,000 bond.

Fake ID leads to real suspect
BERKLEY — A 20-year-old Bloomfield Hills woman was caught attempting to use fake identification at 12:06 p.m. Aug. 18 at 3916 W. 11 Mile Road.

Police were called to Quality Roots for a report of a woman attempting to use a fake ID to buy marijuana. When the fake ID was caught by the store, the woman left the scene before police arrived.

While the ID was fake, police said that it did list the woman’s real address. Police were able to track down the woman and called her to the Public Safety Department, where she was issued a citation.

Incense starts fire in empty apartment
FARMINGTON — Public safety officers responded to Chatham Hills Apartments on a smoke investigation around 8:35 p.m. Aug. 26. 

When officers arrived they detected smoke coming from underneath the door to a second story apartment. The apartment was unattended and locked. The officers forced entry and found an active fire within. Officers extinguished the fire, the origin of which was determined to be unattended incense placed near an apartment wall.

Surfboard goes missing
WEST BLOOMFIELD — A complainant went to the Police Department Aug. 29 to report that their surfboard was taken from their boat at the West Acres Marina.

No suspects were reported.

Motorcyclist punches woman’s side mirror
BIRMINGHAM — A 51-year-old Royal Oak woman told police Aug. 31 that while driving down Woodward Avenue, she encountered a group of motorcyclists traveling at a high rate of speed who were visibly angry with motorists who were not getting out of their way. 

One of the motorcyclists intentionally smashed the victim’s side mirror with their fist. An investigation was ongoing.

Police break up fight at restaurant
BIRMINGHAM —  Officers on patrol were at a restaurant in the 200 block of South Old Woodward around 1 a.m. Sept. 1 when a fight broke out between several men. 

One, a 28-year-old Sterling Heights man, resisted officers’ attempts to stop the fight and continued to behave aggressively. As officers attempted to subdue him, another man, a 35-year-old Macomb resident, grabbed one officer’s shoulder and pulled him backwards. Both suspects were arrested, with the Sterling Heights man charged with disturbing the peace and obstruction of justice, and the Macomb man charged with obstruction of justice.

Man caught defecating outside of restaurant
ROCHESTER HILLS — Deputies responded to the National Coney Island on Rochester Road for a report of indecent exposure at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 12.

The complainant stated that he saw a man defecate in front of the business, then walk off in an unknown direction. 

The caller provided a description of the suspect to deputies, who located a man matching the description inside a Taco Bell. 

The suspect, a 49-year-old man from Rochester, was detained and walked back to Coney Island, where deputies observed human feces and two napkins. 

Deputies obtained video footage from Coney Island and confirmed the suspect. 

Deputies issued the suspect an appearance ticket for disorderly conduct and drove him home.

Business footage catches package thief 
SOUTHFIELD — At 3:30 p.m. Sept. 16, a resident dropped off three boxes in the 21000 block of Melrose Avenue to be sent out of state. 

Later, when she discovered only two of the boxes were successfully sent, she reached out to the business. 

Upon reviewing footage from that day, the business observed the woman dropping off the boxes, and an unknown individual taking one of the boxes off the counter when the employee was not looking and then exiting the store.

Driver found with fake grenade but real guns during arrest
BERKLEY — Police arrested a driver for felon in possession of a weapon at 11:20 a.m. Sept. 18 near Greenfield Road and Edwards Avenue.

According to the Public Safety Department, officers pulled over a 32-year-old Detroit man, as the vehicle he was driving had an expired plate and no insurance. The driver stated that the vehicle was not his.

The man was placed in handcuffs and when asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, he said there was a grenade. A grenade-type object was found in the glovebox. Michigan State Police advised that, based on a photo, the grenade-type object did not have an explosive charge but contained rubber BBs and was not illegal to possess. The driver said it was for paintball.

Police said they did find multiple firearms in both the glovebox and center console with rounds inside. The driver reportedly had stated that there were no firearms inside the vehicle.

Gun, garden tools recovered after attempted car theft 
SOUTHFIELD — A man sitting in his running vehicle at 2:42 a.m. Sept. 21 in the 25000 block of Northwestern Highway was approached by two individuals. When the two individuals realized the victim was inside the car, they fled to a different vehicle and drove off. 

The pair then crashed the vehicle they had attempted to leave in. 

Officers arrived at the scene and located the suspects and the crashed vehicle. 

A handgun and multiple garden tools were recovered, and the suspects were taken into custody.

Suspect throws a dumbbell through window to steal a bottle of liquor
SOUTHFIELD — A business in the 24000 block of West 12 Mile Road had a dumbbell thrown through the window at 3:13 a.m. Sept. 21. The suspect then stole a bottle of liquor. Officers responded, and they located and arrested the suspect without issue.

Former family friend attempts to light empty gasoline cans on porch
BIRMINGHAM —  At approximately 7 p.m. Sept. 25, officers were dispatched to Oak Street after a 56-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man reported that a man was attempting to light two gasoline cans on fire on their porch. Shortly after, it was discovered that the gasoline cans were empty and that the suspect, a 27-year-old Troy man, is a former family friend. Charges against the suspect were being sought. An investigation was ongoing.

Personal stress leads to random assault
TROY — Officers were dispatched to Crooks Road for a report of an assault that just occurred at 11:01 a.m. Sept. 27. 

Upon arrival, officers spoke to a man who said he was walking his dog when an unknown male suspect came up to him, yelled in his face, punched the top of his head, and ripped his shirt. 

Officers located the suspect in the area of Crooks and Wattles, and he was taken into custody. The suspect stated he had just quit his job and had gotten into an argument with his family, so he walked up to the first person he saw and assaulted them. 

The suspect, a 27-year-old man from Troy, was arrested and was issued a citation for assault and battery and a petition for a mental health evaluation.

Porsche backs into portable bathroom
BIRMINGHAM — On Oct. 3 at approximately 5 p.m., a foreman on a road and infrastructure construction project at Arlington and Shirley reported that one of his crew saw someone back a Porsche SUV into a portable restroom on the job site earlier that afternoon.

The portable bathroom, which was sitting in the public easement in front of a home, tipped over into the road. An investigation was ongoing. 

Apple tree cut from yard
ROYAL OAK — A complainant reported that between 9:45 and 10:30 a.m. Oct. 4, an unknown person cut down the apple tree in the complainant’s front yard on West LaSalle Avenue near North Main Street. 

Police investigate stolen baseball cards
BERKLEY — A business reported a retail fraud to police at 4:53 p.m. Oct. 5 at 3277 W. 12 Mile Road.

According to the report, Time Travelers called police to report a case of retail fraud that had occurred the day prior, Oct. 4.

Police learned that two men in their 40s or 50s came into the store Oct. 4 and reportedly used conversational distractions to steal three boxes of baseball cards. Each box was valued at $280.

Suspect drives into family member’s house
TROY — SOUTHFIELD — At 12:49 a.m. Oct. 5, a family member showed up unannounced at a home in the 29000 block of Bermuda Lane and attempted to talk with one of the occupants of the home.

During the conversation, an argument ensued. The suspect then intentionally drove her vehicle into the home multiple times, according to a police report. 

During this process, the suspect struck two people who were at the home. 

Officers arrived on the scene, and the suspect was taken into custody.

Suspects break items in home invasion
SOUTHFIELD — Multiple women showed up to a resident’s home on Knob Woods Drive at 6:11 a.m. Oct. 8 and broke multiple items inside, according to a police report. The suspects gained entry through a window.  

iPad sale turns into robbery 
SOUTHFIELD — A person met up with two individuals to purchase two iPads at 4:05 p.m. Oct. 17. During the transaction, the victim did not feel like the transaction was legitimate and decided he no longer wanted to go through with the sale. 

The suspect then made threats and held his hand under his sweatshirt, demanding the victim hand over the chain he was wearing and money, or else he would be killed. The victim complied and handed over the items. Officers were able to identify suspects via the CCTV footage provided by a nearby business. Two suspects were taken into custody without incident.

Gun accidentally goes off in man’s pocket
FARMINGTON —  Police were dispatched to Corewell Health for a 42-year-old gunshot wound victim from Farmington at approximately 5 p.m. Oct. 18. Officers contacted the man and learned he had been working on a piece of equipment in the 32000 block of Grand River Avenue when he’d placed a tool into the same pocket where he was legally carrying a firearm. The firearm discharged, and the subject suffered an injury. The case was forwarded to the detective bureau for warrant consideration.

Police apprehend juveniles in possession of stolen firearm
SOUTHFIELD — Southfield police were contacted and responded to two individuals playing with a firearm inside a vehicle at 5:55 p.m. Oct. 20. Officers responded and located the vehicle in the 22000 block of West 10 Mile Road. Police ordered the individuals out of the vehicle, and they complied. Officers located a firearm inside the vehicle and determined that the firearm had been reported as stolen. Since the suspects were juveniles, they were transported to Children’s Village.

Suspect posing as victim attempts to donate vehicle to tow yard
SOUTHFIELD — Between 3:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 21, a resident had their vehicle stolen and taken to a tow yard in the 22000 block of Le Rhone Street, where an unknown individual posing as the victim stated they wished to donate the 2005 Dodge Durango.

Woman steals beer
BERKLEY — A 52-year-old Berkley woman was arrested for retail fraud at 10:10 p.m. Oct. 24 at 1715 Coolidge Highway.

Police reported to the CVS Pharmacy after a retail fraud had been committed. According to the report, the woman was attempting to purchase three cans of beer. The suspect said the employee could trust her as she visibly was over the age of 21. The employee insisted that she show an identification, to which the woman said she was walking out of the store without paying.

The woman was able to leave the store but was chased down by the employee, who told her to give the cans back. While the employee was attempting to get the beer back from the suspect, she allegedly told the employee that she was going to shoot him. The suspect gave back two cans of beer, but cracked open the third can, drank from it and threw it at the employee before leaving on foot northbound on Coolidge, according to police.

Police were able to track down the woman and place her under arrest for third-degree retail fraud and simple assault and battery.

Driver veers into trees 
TROY — Officers were dispatched to East Square Lake Road and Rochester roads for a report of a vehicle crash at 2:34 p.m. Oct. 25. 

The driver, a 39-year-old man from Troy, was in a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado that sustained heavy damage after veering off the roadway, hitting multiple ditches, and ending up in the trees. 

Officers noted the driver’s eyes were bloodshot and watery and there was a strong odor of intoxicants coming from his person. He refused to perform sobriety evaluations or submit to a preliminary breath test. 

He was arrested and a search warrant to complete a blood draw was prepared and granted. His blood was drawn by medical personnel. The case was turned over to the Detective Bureau for appropriate warrants once the blood results are returned.

Mother caught driving drunk to pick child up from scene of incident
ROCHESTER — An officer was dealing with a juvenile matter at 11:56 p.m. Nov. 4 and told the juvenile to contact a parent. A few moments later, the juvenile’s mother drove to the scene, and the officer observed signs of impairment. Field sobriety evaluations were conducted, which the driver failed. The driver was given a preliminary breath test, which resulted in a blood alcohol content of 0.09%. The driver was placed under arrest, the juvenile was turned over to the other parent, and the mother was taken to the Police Department. A chemical breath test was administered, and the blood alcohol content was 0.11%. The driver was lodged until sober and was released with a pending court date.

Driver arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Bloomfield Township Police Department responded to the area of Telegraph Road and Maple Road on the report of a stolen vehicle from a license plate reader Nov. 10. 

Officers arrived in the area and located a stolen silver Chevrolet Malibu in the parking lot of the Bloomfield Plaza. The driver was arrested for being in possession of a stolen vehicle, police said.

Southfield police apprehend car thief
SOUTHFIELD — At 3:45 a.m. Nov. 15, Southfield officers located an unoccupied running vehicle near the 25000 block of Shiawassee Road. 

Upon further investigation, a nearby vehicle’s car alarm went off, and officers observed an unknown individual running from the car. The suspect was apprehended.

Women quarrel outside Police Department
NOVI — Two women got into a physical confrontation outside the Novi Police Department after they both came to bail out the same man at 11:45 p.m. Nov. 21. According to a police report, a cadet notified two police officers of the situation and the women were separated when officers came outside. One officer spoke with one of the women inside the Police Department lobby while the other officer spoke with a woman by her car. Following the interviews, police said, both women were arrested for assault and battery and later released with a citation.

Intoxicated driver gives thumbs-up, then hits street sign
TROY — Officers were dispatched to the Lanergan Drive and Newgate Road area for a welfare check at 1:51 p.m. Nov. 22. 

The witness reported observing a vehicle stopped in the intersection of Wendover and Paddington for over 20 minutes. He went to check on the driver, who reportedly gave him a thumbs-up before driving away slowly. The witness then reportedly saw the vehicle travel off the road onto multiple yards and hit a street sign.

Upon speaking with the driver, a 59-year-old woman from Troy, officers immediately noted she was in an altered state. The driver allegedly admitted to drinking Champagne before driving. She submitted to a preliminary breath test with a result of 0.219%, police said. 

She was arrested and transported to the Troy Police Department lockup facility, where she agreed to submit to a chemical breath test with results of 0.266% and 0.279%, police said. The driver was issued a citation for operating with a blood alcohol content of 0.17% or more.

Police recover stolen car mirrors following road rage incident
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP — Police took a report of two stolen side mirrors on a black 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio in the parking lot at Costco, 2343 S. Telegraph Road, at approximately 10 a.m. Nov. 24. 

According to police, the officer who took the report was able to successfully identify and get a confession from the suspect. The suspect allegedly admitted to stealing the mirrors because he was upset over a road rage incident and “did not have the balls” to confront the victim. 

Police said the suspect brought the stolen mirrors into the police station and turned them over. Charges were pending.