Armed Robbery, Burglary, Home Invasion, Larceny, Retail Fraud

August 7, 2015

Detroit Man, Two Others Arrested After Allegedly Breaking and Entering Mecosta County Home

On Monday, August 3, three individuals were arrested after neighbors claim to have seen two of the three carrying items from a home that had been broken in to on Olaf Street in Big Rapids. The three were arrested, according to a news article at UpNorthLive.com.

One of the suspects was a juvenile; one of the men arrested is an 18-year-old White Cloud man, the other a 23-year-old man from Detroit. Officials with the Big Rapids Dept. of Public Safety say the Detroit man broke into the home at just before 3 p.m. Neighbors claim to have seen the two men carrying an XBox One, two pairs of Air Jordan sneakers, and a curtain which was believed to be used to carry the items stolen from the home.

The 18-year-old fled the scene and went to a nearby business where he was apprehended by Dept. of Public Safety officers. The Detroit man and juvenile were located after officers surrounded an apartment complex in Big Rapids.

May 15, 2015

Man Suspected of Robbing Byron Township Citgo Apprehended by Police Following Brief Chase

by Scott Grabel

On Wednesday, May 13, an armed robber stole cash from a Byron Township Citgo station located on 84th St. SW, according to a recent news article at Mlive.com. The robbery occurred at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon; police identified the suspect on Thursday, who was caught on a surveillance camera inside the Citgo.

The suspect, whose name was not released, was allegedly armed with a knife when he robbed the gas station. On Thursday evening, police spotted the man driving a white Dodge pickup in Grand Rapids just after 6:30 in the area of Broadway Avenue north of Leonard Street NW. The man spotted the patrol car and drove off, which resulted in a short vehicle chase before the man exited his pickup and fled on foot. According to deputies, the man jumped down a steep embankment and suffered injuries after landing on a tree. He was found a short time later hiding next to an abandoned building, and was arrested before being transported to a local hospital via AMR Ambulance.

The news report indicated the suspect is being guarded by Michigan Department of Corrections officers, and is held on a parole violation.

January 2, 2015

Cass County Police Investigating Armed Robbery at Marcellus Gas Station

by Scott Grabel

On New Year’s Day, the Yummies Marathon gas station in Marcellus was robbed by an armed gunman, according to a news article at Mlive.com. Cass County police were investigating the robbery as of early this morning in an effort to capture the gunman, who has been described as a white man who is approximately 220 lbs., 5 foot 8 inches tall, and last seen wearing a dark grey hooded sweatshirt, blue t-shirt, blue jeans, striped grey and black winter hat, and black vest.

The robbery occurred just after 10:30 p.m. on New Year’s night, as the suspect allegedly walked into the station and proceeded to demand cash from the clerk while brandishing a black semi-automatic handgun. The amount of cash he escaped with had not been determined at the time of news reports.

A K-9 tracking dog was brought to the gas station by the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, however their efforts to locate the suspect failed. Police were requesting anyone with further information about the robbery or suspect to contact their tip line at 1-800-462-9328.

October 17, 2014

FBI Requests Help of Public in Identifying Man Wanted in Michigan Bank Robbery

by Scott Grabel

Recently, the FBI has requested the public’s help in identifying a man who is suspected of robbing a TCF Bank branch in Lathrup. According to a news report at CBS Detroit, the agency is offering a $1,500 reward for information which may lead to the arrest and conviction of the man, who robbed the bank on October 6 just after 10 a.m.

The man, according to reports, is described as a black man who was wearing sunglasses, gloves, dark pants, and a hoodie described as a Champion brand at the time of the robbery. He was also wearing a piece of white tape on his nose. The man implied that he possessed a gun, and demanded that a teller give him money. The amount of money the robber escaped with was not revealed in news reports.

Witnesses said that the car the suspect fled the scene in was an older model vehicle with damage on the front end, possibly a Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable that is white in color with a white passenger-side mirror and dark driver-side mirror. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 248-557-3600 or the FBI at 313-965-2323.