Theft and Property Crimes

April 25, 2013

Flint Man Receives 25-50 Year Sentence in 2012 Burton Meijer Armed Robbery

On March 28, 30-year-old Dewayne Kerperien was found guilty of armed robbery in connection with an incident at a Burton Meijer store last year in which he allegedly robbed a woman in the parking lot. Kerperien, who is a resident of Flint, was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison by Genesee Circuit Judge Archie Hayman on Monday April 22.

In August of 2012, Kerperien allegedly forced a woman into her vehicle after following her into the parking lot of the Meijer store located on Center Road. According to a news article at Mlive.com, he approached her from behind with a gun as she got out of her vehicle, then forced her back inside. Kerperien took the woman’s wallet, keys, cell phone, and other property, then drove away. He was captured by surveillance cameras at a gas station nearby, where he was observed selling the victim’s cell phone. Kerperien was found guilty of armed robbery and unlawful imprisonment.

Additional charges of felony firearms and felon in possession of a firearm were filed against Kerperien, however jurors found him not guilty on these charges. He has an extensive criminal background according to state records, and was last released from prison in May of 2010.

Armed robbery is a criminal offense that is punished very harshly in the state of Michigan. Michigan armed robbery lawyers know that any individual who is charged with this crime must obtain a skilled and capable attorney in order to improve the odds of a good outcome. Even when an individual has not been arrested or charged but is under investigation, it is important to consult with an experienced attorney who can begin working on a strong and effective defense right away.

April 23, 2013

Woman Shot in Head During Robbery; Suspect Still at Large

by Scott Grabel

On Friday April 19, a 20-year-old woman was shot in the head as she was walking to her apartment after getting off work. The woman, who is a resident of Pittsfield Township, was treated for non-life threatening injuries following the shooting, although the suspect was still at large.

Chief Gordy Schick of the Pittsfield Township Deputy Police said that the victim was approached by a man with a gun who attempted to take her purse. The man then forced the woman to the ground demanding that she remove her clothes while holding a gun to her head. As the alleged victim fought back, the man shot her in the left side of the head. The police chief believes that although the suspect did not sexually assault the woman, he did intend to.

The incident took place in the 4900 block of Lakeridge Drive in Pittsfield Township at approximately 10:30 p.m. The suspect is described as a black male about 5′ 8″ in height who is thinly built, bald, and thought to be 18 to 20 years old. According to a news article at Annarbor.com, he was wearing dark clothing and a hoodie.

Police are now investigating whether the suspect in this case may be the same man who sexually assaulted an Ypsilanti Township woman recently. Composite sketches of the suspects have been released in both cases, and the images are said to look very similar. However, the physical descriptions given of the suspects differ substantially, as the man suspected in the Ypsilanti Township sexual assault is described as being over six feet tall, while the Pittsfield Township robbery suspect was described as about 5′ 8″ tall.

Police believe the woman who was attacked as she walked toward her apartment complex may have been at Washtenaw Avenue and Golfside Road near the AATA bus stop prior to the shooting, although they do not reveal in news reports why they suspect the woman was in the area.

Although news reports do not indicate what the suspect may be charged with when apprehended, Michigan criminal defense lawyers know that he will no doubt face serious consequences. Attempted robbery and assault are serious offenses; when a gun is present and someone is injured, the consequences become even more dire for the person who is convicted of committing the crime.

April 19, 2013

Meridian Township Man Convicted of Armed Robbery Faces 3 to 15 Years in Prison

by Scott Grabel

In January of this year, 31-year-old Raymond Burger of Meridian Township was arrested for allegedly robbing a gas station in December of 2012. Burger was accused of holding up the Marathon gas station located at 3010 Lake Lansing Road with a weapon. News reports at Mlive.com state that no one was injured in the incident, and that the defendant stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

After investigating and analyzing surveillance images, Meridian Township police determined that Burger was a suspect in the hold up; a warrant was then issued by the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office for Burger’s arrest. He pleaded guilty to two counts of unarmed robbery in exchange for prosecutors dropping the charge of armed robbery. Now, Burger has been sentenced to three to 15 years in prison by Ingham County Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk. He was also ordered by the judge to pay multiple fees and costs. Burger had already served 100 days in jail since his arrest, which Draganchuk gave him credit for.

Burger had a prior criminal record in Wayne County, and had previously served approximately two years for convictions on charges of assault, obstructing, and resisting police. He was released from prison in 2012.

As experienced Michigan armed robbery attorneys we know that if Burger had not pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, he may have faced life in prison. Much of the outcome of a defendant’s case rests in the hands of his/her attorney, and that attorney’s skill and ability. Skilled lawyers work to have the charges against their clients dismissed, but there are situations in which this outcome is not possible. In these situations it may work to the client’s advantage to plea bargain with prosecutors in order to reduce sentencing and the damage to your life. A talented defense attorney can work to develop the best possible defense for his or her client.

April 16, 2013

Woman Suspected in Spaghetti Sauce Bank Robbery in Clinton Township Arrested

by Scott Grabel

A woman nick-named the “Ragu Bomber” in connection with robbing a Clinton Township bank using two jars of spaghetti sauce on Saturday April 6 has been arrested. 53-year-old Ophelia Amelia Neal was arrested after robbing the Fifth Third Bank using spaghetti sauce in a bag which she claimed to be a bomb as she demanded cash from a teller.

A news article at Mlive.com states that Neal absconded with $3,000, escaping in a getaway car that was driven by an unidentified male. After spending hours of carefully removing the “explosives” left behind by the suspect, state police opened the bag to find two cans of Ragu spaghetti sauce. Clinton Township police Capt. Richard Maierle said that Neal did not bother to conceal her face in the robbery, and that at more than 400 pounds, she was already conspicuous. Neal is a parole absconder and convict, so police recognized her quickly due to previous dealings with her. She was arrested on Friday April 12 in Mount Clemens.

Neal has been convicted in the past for marijuana possession, possession of controlled substances, writing bad checks, and felony assault. She was charged by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office with bank robbery and using an explosive with intent to frighten.

Michigan armed robbery lawyers know that even when an individual does not use a “real” weapon in the commission of a bank robbery but insinuates the presence of one in order to frighten or instill fear in victims, that individual may face life in prison if convicted. This is an extremely serious felony offense that is severely punished in the state of Michigan.

April 15, 2013

Two Teens Arrested Following Alleged Carjacking of Woman with Toddler in Detroit

by Scott Grabel

On Wednesday April 10, a woman was allegedly carjacked after coming out of a west Detroit Dollar Store, where she and her 4-year-old son had been shopping for balloons. The incident took place in the middle of the day, when the woman was carjacked at gunpoint as she unlocked her car doors. There were two suspects who were said to be wearing black hooded sweatshirts; they emerged from an abandoned building when the woman unlocked the doors to get in her car, according to a news article at ClickonDetroit.com.

Two teenagers have since been arrested in the carjacking after Detroit police set up surveillance following a tip they received that the woman’s car was located at Grandmont and West Chicago. The two suspects, age 17 and 18, eventually came for the car. This is when police stopped them nearby, and arrested the 18-year-old after he fled on foot and was tracked to a garage with the assistance of the department’s K-9 Unit. A news report at Mlive.com stated that police also recovered the gun.

The 24-year-old woman was able to pull her son out of the back seat of the vehicle before the teens fled with the car. News reports state that the woman was panicking, thinking only of getting her son out of the car. All she remember seeing was the gun when one of the suspects approached her vehicle and demanded the car keys and money; she said she could not really see the teen’s faces. Once getting her son from the back seat, she ran for safety.

Michigan auto theft attorneys know that this is a very serious crime, particularly when the occupants of a vehicle are forced out by the use of a weapon or even the threat of violence. Those convicted may face a sentence of up to life in prison; if a police chase ensues, many defendants find themselves facing a minimum of 10 years behind bars.

April 8, 2013

Stakeout Results in Arrest of Detroit Home Invasions Suspect

by Scott Grabel

Troy police have captured a man they believe to be responsible for as many as 20 home invasions in the Detroit area, according to a news article at Mlive.com. D’Mario D. Thornton, a 32-year-old Sterling Heights resident, was suspected of breaking into multiple homes in Rochester, Troy, West Bloomfield, Shelby Township and other areas; police say they were “on his trail” when they finally nabbed Thornton on Wednesday, April 3.

Officers were on a stake out, watching and waiting when they observed Thornton break into a Rochester Hills residence. He was arrested without incident, and taken to the Oakland County Jail where he is being held on $1 million bond. Thus far, Thornton has been charged with a single count of home invasion.

The investigation into the home invasions was conducted by the Troy Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) which is comprised of officers from Auburn Hills, Farmington Hills, Troy, and Bloomfield Township. SONIC (South Oakland Narcotic Investigation Consortium) officers from Bloomfield Township and Novi also participated in the investigation.

Stolen items from 14 of the home invasions have been discovered by Troy police so far. New reports also allege that Thornton was convicted on charges of embezzling and attempting to defraud more than $20,000 under false pretenses in conjunction with offenses he committed in 2000. He was convicted of home invasion in California as well, and is listed on Michigan’s Dept. of Correction Offender Tracking Information System website as a parolee.

As highly regarded Michigan home invasion attorneys, we know that if convicted, Thornton will face serious criminal penalties. A conviction for first-degree home invasion will leave the accused individual potentially facing fines of up to $5,000 and up to 20 years in prison. However, other factors including prior criminal convictions can result in harsher sentencing.

April 2, 2013

California Investigators Arrest Man Believed to Be Involved in Numerous Washtenaw County Bank Robberies

by Scott Grabel

A man believed to have been involved in at least eight bank robberies throughout Washtenaw County over a year time period spanning 2011 and 2012 has been arrested by a fugitive task force in Los Angeles. Charles Anthony Williams, a 40-year-old resident of Los Angeles, was arrested on Thursday March 28. According to Detective Don Lupi of the Saline police, Williams was a member of a group that has committed a string of bank robberies across the U.S.

In Michigan, a task force was organized in the efforts to apprehend the bank robbers. This task force included Ann Arbor, Jackson, and Saline police departments, the Michigan State Police, the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsfield Township Dept. of Public Safety, and the FBI. Lupi stated in a news article at AnnArbor.com that “It’s nice when a department of our size that doesn’t have the resources has other, larger departments with resources step up and help.”

Some of the banks it is believed Williams had a part in robbing include Bank of America at 2250 W. Michigan Avenue and PNC Bank at 3175 West Clark Road, both in Ypsilanti Township; America 1 Credit Union and a Citizens Bank both in Jackson, and Comerica Bank and Flagstar Bank in Ann Arbor.

Security cameras revealed that the suspects were wearing masks in the commission of the bank robberies, similar to those worn by Jason in the Friday the 13th movies according to investigators. The suspects also implied they were in possession of weapons or pulled out guns, according to news reports.

Authorities are not clear how many other individuals were involved with Williams in the bank robberies. Williams will face prosecution by the federal government according to Detective Bill Stanford of the Ann Arbor Police Department. He also said that the others involved in the robberies can expect to be charged by U.S. attorneys when apprehended.

Michigan armed robbery lawyers know that the penalties those convicted on charges of armed bank robbery are severe, and that those who are prosecuted at the federal level will face even harsher consequences if convicted. At the state level, an individual convicted of stealing money or property and possessing a gun or other dangerous weapon, or even insinuating the presence of a weapon, will face up to life in prison.

March 29, 2013

Armed Robbery Among Charges Filed Against Two Detroit Police Officers

by Scott Grabel

Two Detroit police officers have been charged with numerous felony counts related to crimes which were allegedly committed between May of 2012 and March of this year according to a news report at Mlive.com. The two officers, Jeffrey Armstrong and Clifton Whatley, have been suspended from duty after an investigation led police to believe that the two were involved in a string of armed robberies in and around the Detroit area during the specified time period.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said that the prosecutor’s office would vigorously present their case in court, and that the law has been violated by two badged men who the public trusted to uphold it.

According to the news article, Clifton Whatley is charged with felony firearm, conducting a criminal enterprise, two counts of bank robbery, three counts of unlawful imprisonment, and three counts of armed robbery. Worthy contends that Whatley organized robberies across Wayne County in Canton, Harper Woods, Melvindale, Taylor, and Westland. He is accused of holding up several check-cashing stores in the suburbs surrounding Detroit, but not in the city itself. He has been an officer with the Detroit Police Department since 2000.

Jeffrey Armstrong is said to be a longtime friend of Whatley. Prosecutor’s claim that he robbed a Taylor Check and Go located in the 9100 block of Telegraph in May of 2012. He has been charged with felonious firearm possession, bank robbery, and armed robbery.

Whatley and Armstrong both have preliminary examinations scheduled for April 8; Armstrong will also be arraigned on that date. Whatley was arraigned on Thursday, March 28; he remains behind bars on a $1 million cash bond.

As Michigan armed robbery attorneys know, this offense is taken very seriously in Michigan – and the penalties are severe for those convicted. Committing a robbery while in possession of a dangerous weapon is a felony crime, punishable by possible life in prison according to Michigan Penal Code 750.529.

March 26, 2013

Meridian Township Bank Robbed, Police Still in Pursuit of Suspect

by Scott Grabel

On Monday March 25, Independent Bank in Meridian Township was robbed by an unknown suspect in broad daylight, according to news reports at Mlive.com. Police are still on the lookout for the suspect, who was seen on surveillance tape. They have also released a sketch of the man they believe to be the suspect.

The bank, located at 2119 Hamilton Road, was robbed at around noon by a man who the teller involved said gave her a note with instructions. The teller handed over the money, at which point the suspect fled on foot. There were no witnesses who could give police information regarding which direction the suspect went.

The Independent Bank is located approximately two miles east of Michigan State University. According to police, the teller obliged the suspect’s demands, handing over an undisclosed amount of cash. Police also attempted to track the suspect with their K-9 team, but the effort was unsuccessful.

The suspect was described by witnesses as a white male in his mid-20s, thinly built and approximately 5′ 10″ in height. He wore mirrored sunglasses, khaki pants, a black cap and black dress coat, and white Nike’s.

While news reports do not mention whether the suspect was armed, Michigan unarmed robbery attorneys know that even when an individual is not armed, he or she will face serious criminal penalties if convicted. Attempting to obtain money or property without permission and using fear or intimidation to obtain that property will subject the accused to up to 15 years in prison according to Michigan Penal Code 750.530. If an individual does possess a gun or firearm in the commission of a bank robbery or even suggests the presence of a weapon, he or she may face up to life in prison.

March 18, 2013

Man Wearing Dress Shirt and Tie Arrested for Robbery at Ypsilanti Township TCF Bank

by Scott Grabel

On Sunday March 17, Ypsilanti police arrested Derrick Jackson in connection with the weekend robbery of TCF Bank in Ypsilanti Township. The bank, located at 2150 Packard Road, was robbed on Saturday; police responded after the holdup alarm went off at approximately 2:25 p.m.

Following the robbery, deputies searched the vicinity but were unable to locate the suspect, who was described as a white male approximately 5’6″ tall and weighing 165 pounds. Witnesses also said the suspect was wearing a red jacket, but underneath was a dress shirt and tie. According to Sgt. Geoffrey Fox of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department, no weapon was observed on bank surveillance camera photos during the commission of the robbery.

While the suspect did elude authorities on Saturday, he wasn’t so lucky on Sunday. The Ypsilanti officer who spotted Jackson had seen the surveillance footage, and recognized the suspect who was walking down the street as he was patrolling in the area near Ecorse Road and East Michigan Avenue. Jackson, who is 50 years old, was arrested without incident according to a news report at AnnArbor.com.

Jackson is currently on parole for a Wayne County bank robbery; in the course of the arrest, a portion of the money which was stolen from the bank was recovered.

Michigan unarmed robbery attorneys know that while unarmed robbery is not typically as serious as offense as armed robbery, individuals who are convicted may still face up to 15 years in prison for this felony charge if it can be proven that force, fear, or violence was used in the commission of the crime. Additionally, prosecutors and police will look for ways to “trump up” the charge against you, resulting in harsher penalties.