The Sterling Heights Police Department Community Response Unit has been investigating a string of business burglaries over the past few weeks.
On December 28, they observed the
suspect sitting in a dark colored SUV in a commercial parking lot at 16 Mile
Road and Ryan Road. The Community
Response Unit then maintained surveillance of the suspect/vehicle while the
suspect traveled to another commercial parking lot at 15 Mile Road and Dodge
Park Road. The Community Response Unit
observed the suspect exit his vehicle in front of 11558 15 Mile Road “Coco Bean
Creamery & Café”. The suspect was
observed smashing the front glass door of the business and entering the
business. The Community Response Unit
moved in to arrest the suspect as he was exiting the store. The suspect ignored the commands given by the
SHPD officers and jumped into his vehicle.
The suspect then used his vehicle to ram his way out of the parking lot,
damaging two SHPD police vehicles in the process and nearly running down an
officer to get away.
A pursuit
of the suspect vehicle continued eastbound on 15 Mile Road where the suspect
entered the sink hole construction area near Hayes Road. There was a civilian
security detail blocking
the roadway at that location while construction personnel worked in the
area. The suspect vehicle struck a civilian
vehicle that was parked on 15
Mile Road to block the construction area; the
civilian vehicle was occupied by security personnel at the time. The suspect vehicle then came to rest nearby
where it hit a fire hydrant and the suspect jumped out of the vehicle and fled
on foot. The SHPD Officers were able to
tackle the suspect at that point who then fought with officers who were
affecting the arrest.
The
suspect was taken into custody and he will be arraigned on the listed criminal
charges at the 41 A District in Sterling Heights (at a later date). The security guard in this matter was taken
to a nearby hospital for medical attention and is expected to recover from his
injuries. The suspect has a lengthy criminal history and multiple
arrests for burglary.
Special
attention is given to the Community Response Unit at SHPD who did an
outstanding job in apprehending this criminal who is connected to several
commercial burglaries in our city.