DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – While police in Dearborn Heights continue to unravel a troubling case involving a teen who had been missing for nearly a month and a half and was allegedly found with a 62-year-old man, they say he is now detained with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The agency, through the Department of Homeland Security, picked the suspect up last Friday after it was confirmed he was in the U.S. on a temporary work visa that recently expired. Sources say he is from Lebanon.
“It doesn’t seem like they have the correct processes and procedures in place and there’s some serious allegations coming out of the facility. have some serious investigations going on,” Saab said. “We want an independent investigation through LARA and the AG’s office.”
Dearborn Heights City Council Hassan Saab
Discovery of the missing teen
According to police, the 62-year-old man told police he found the teen in distress near a car wash close to Beech and Joy roads, where he worked. Police said he allowed her to use his cell phone. The business owner, according to police, has been “more than cooperative.”
The 16-year-old, who ran from Vista Maria March 14, is now being psychologically evaluated and police are waiting to speak with her further. Dearborn Heights and partnering agencies still need to interview her regarding potential involvement with other “Johns” and a former Vista Maria male staff member.
“The goal is to find out what was going on while she was missing for almost a month and a half,” said Chief Ahmed Haida of the Dearborn Heights Police Department.
Timeline of events
A tipster spotted the teen and the 62-year-old alleged suspect at a Meijer store near Warren and Newburgh roads on April 10. Police said they’re unsure what sort of threats or promises had been made to the teen, but she reportedly made statements that she could only use the cell phone while supervised.
Evidence suggesting a possible sexual assault was found inside the man’s apartment, police said.
“We can’t determine what exactly happened until we’re actually physically able to interview her, but I strongly believe that once we are able to sit down with her and talk to her, that we should have charges,” Chief Haidar said.
Suspect response
The Chief said it appears the 62-year-old suspect had multiple opportunities to come forward with information about the teen’s whereabouts, as he said police canvassed the area and even did an interview with him. Police said the suspect denied knowing or ever seeing the teen.
“He lawyered up, so we haven’t really been able to talk to him much, other than preliminary stuff… anything detailing the investigation, he has not answered,” said Chief Haidar.
Alleged issues at Vista Maria
Meanwhile, as another teen is missing from the Vista Maria facility and former and current staff and residents allege “years” of physical and sexual abuse, poor building conditions, inadequate staff and structure, tensions around Vista Maria have escalated. City Council has expressed frustration, warning that unless improvements are made, the facility could face shutdown.
In an email from one Dearborn Heights Council member, Hassan Saab, on April 27 to the facility’s leadership, it said in part:
“The City of Dearborn Heights City Council is deeply concerned about the ongoing issues at your facility. The repeated police responses, reports of abuse, escape incidents, and operational failures are completely unacceptable. These issues have placed a serious strain on our first responders, endangered our community, and damaged the reputation of our city.”
The council member then asked for “immediate action,” including a full report detailing all recent incidents involving police response, abuse claims, and escapes from your facility, a complete review of operational compliance with all State of Michigan licensing and regulatory requirements, full cooperation with state authorities, including Child Protective Services and Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, for a full and independent investigation, immediate review by the city’s Attorney, Police Department, Building and safety, and 20th District Court regarding process and procedures of the facility, and a review of the Certificate of Occupancy and any licenses issued by the City of Dearborn Heights.
“You are required to schedule a meeting with the Dearborn Heights City Council and City Administration. This meeting must take place within the next 7 days and must include your executive leadership team and any appropriate directors responsible for facility operations.
Failure to respond or cooperate fully will leave the City Council no choice but to pursue all available legal remedies to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our community.”
Community concerns, investigations
“I’m happy that everybody in the community is involved now, and they see the problems that we’re having there,” Chief Haidar said. “We need to get this right; calls for service are insane. Kids can’t keep coming up missing from there.“
Dearborn Heights Police are still looking for another missing girl tied to the same facility: 13-year-old Tamaia Jones.
She allegedly ran away from Vista Maria on Tuesday, April 22, and hasn’t been seen or heard from since then. She was last seen wearing khaki skinny jeans, a tan top, and had a red hairpiece, according to police.
Police told Local 4 that the girl was recently transferred to Vista Maria from another facility and ran away before intake was made, but did, however, make it onto Vista Maria’s property.
Anyone who has seen Tamaia or has any information about the teen is asked to call the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 313-277-6770, their local police department, or 911.
“Every single day runs. People are escaping, and it’s a good facility to have in our community -- It supports the youth, vulnerable people, but we also have got make sure, [the girls] are in a safe facility and in a safe environment.”
Dearborn Heights City Council Hassan Saab
Statements from Vista Maria, authorities
Here is a statement from a spokesperson from Vista Maria from April 25:
“Vista Maria has a 142-year history of providing residential care, mental health services, schooling, foster care, adoption and adoption services for youth, as well as transitional and independent living services for girls ages 18-24 through referrals from the state for young people dealing with issues such as neglect, abuse and human trafficking. The safety and well-being of the youth and families we serve is our top priority.
On Tuesday, April 22, 13-year-old Tamaia Jones was on her way to Vista Maria, after being transferred from another facility. As the transfer vehicle came to a stop upon arrival, Tamaia opened the vehicle door and fled the campus before she could be checked into the facility. We immediately alerted and initiated the search for her. We have been working with law enforcement ever since to help ensure her safe return. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
Anyone with information about this case should contact Dearborn Heights Police at 313-277-6770, your local police department, or call 911."
Here is a statement from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services from April 24:
“The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is deeply committed to ensuring the health and safety of youth at licensed child care facilities and child placing agencies. When allegations of licensing violations are received, the MDHHS Division of Child Welfare Licensing investigates all allegations and holds the licensing agency responsible for corrective actions. MDHHS staff is performing ongoing safety checks on the youth currently placed at the facility to assess their well-being and is in weekly contact with Vista Maria staff.”
