MACOMB (WWJ) - Police say three 20-year-olds and a 16-year-old are facing several charges after being caught with an array of items that were taken from unlocked cars and a residence in Macomb County.
Zackory Bakeman, of Clawson, Nathan Myers, of New Baltimore, and Joshua LaBranche, of Chesterfield Township, on Monday were arraigned on charges of receiving and concealing stolen property, and minor in possession of alcohol. Each was released after posting 10 percent of their bonds, which ranged from $5,000 to $10,000.
The juvenile from Macomb Township, who was turned over to his parents, faces similar charges in Macomb County Juvenile Court.
The sheriff’s office said the charges stem from an incident that occurred around 4 a.m. on June 7. According to police, a newspaper delivery person observed a suspicious person walking on a residential street in the Buckingham Village subdivision of Macomb Township.
Deputies responded to the area of 23 Mile and Card road and located the man walking on Cheddleton Drive. Officers detained the man and during a pat-down found a portable GPS system in his pocket.
In the minutes that followed, other deputies successfully rounded up three other individuals and located the group’s vehicle, a 2007 Ford Focus, which was parked on nearby Vesper Drive. Upon searching the vehicle, deputies found several items that had been taken from unlocked vehicles in the same general area.
Deputies recovered another GPS unit, several cell phones, an iPad and a marijuana pipe. Upon searching the vehicle trunk, deputies also located a loaded shotgun, a large flat-screen television, a DVD player and several bottles of liquor.
At that time, deputies placed the four suspects under arrest. The adults were transported to the county jail, while the teen was released to his parents.
Later in the same day, at approximately 2 p.m., deputies were dispatched to an address on 23 Mile Road near Card Road for a residential breaking and entering. The homeowners told the deputy that they had spent the night away and when they returned, they found that their home had been forcibly entered through an entry door in the garage.
The deputy made a list of what was taken in the break-in, and immediately realized that the described items were identical to the items recovered from the trunk of the Ford Focus.
On Tuesday, the Macomb County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office authorized additional charges of second degree home invasion, a 15-year felony, on all three of the previously arrested individuals. The juvenile also faces an identical home invasion charge.
“Here is another example where a citizen became involved and shared her suspicions with our police agency,” Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said in a statement. “This is a classic example of what can be accomplished when citizens and the police work together to solve problems.”
