INSIDER
Man accused of killing innocent driver while fleeing traffic stop in Dearborn faces homicide charge
Read full article: Man accused of killing innocent driver while fleeing traffic stop in Dearborn faces homicide chargeThe man accused of killing an innocent driver on Monday while fleeing a traffic stop and causing a crash at an intersection in Dearborn is facing multiple charges, including homicide.
Prosecutor: Detroit police officers will not face charges in fatal shooting of Porter Burks
Read full article: Prosecutor: Detroit police officers will not face charges in fatal shooting of Porter BurksThe five police officers involved in the fatal October shooting of Detroit resident Porter Burks will not face charges, officials announced Wednesday.
Backlog of 11K untested Detroit rape kits from 1984 to 2009 have been fully tested
Read full article: Backlog of 11K untested Detroit rape kits from 1984 to 2009 have been fully testedMore than 11,000 rape kits done for Detroit sexual assault survivors between 1984 through 2009 now have the opportunity to receive information from the evidence that has been discovered within their kits.
Wayne man accused of holding ex-girlfriend against her will for 6 weeks, torturing her
Read full article: Wayne man accused of holding ex-girlfriend against her will for 6 weeks, torturing herProsecutors are charging a Wayne County man with torture, unlawful imprisonment and more after he allegedly kidnapped and held his ex-girlfriend against her will for more than six weeks.
Man facing decades in prison for murder of popular Bloomfield Hills hairstylist Bashar Kallabat
Read full article: Man facing decades in prison for murder of popular Bloomfield Hills hairstylist Bashar KallabatA Detroit man was sentenced Wednesday after being convicted of second-degree murder in the 2020 killing of popular Bloomfield Hills hairstylist Bashar Kallabat.
Prosecutor: Dearborn wrestling coach faces child porn charges after soliciting photos from student
Read full article: Prosecutor: Dearborn wrestling coach faces child porn charges after soliciting photos from studentA Dearborn Divine Child wrestling coach is facing multiple charges after police said he solicited sexual photos from a 15-year-old boy.
Man targeting members of LGBTQ community pleads guilty to Detroit murder, Dearborn robbery
Read full article: Man targeting members of LGBTQ community pleads guilty to Detroit murder, Dearborn robberyA man who was targeting members of the LGBTQ community on dating apps has pleaded guilty in connection with a Detroit murder and a Dearborn robbery, officials said.
Southfield man charged for attempted sexual assault, kidnapping at Detroit Metro Airport
Read full article: Southfield man charged for attempted sexual assault, kidnapping at Detroit Metro AirportA 32-year-old Southfield man has been charged for allegedly attempting to sexually assault a woman at Detroit Metro Airport.
Inkster man accused of killing 60-year-old with kitchen knife, stabbing victim’s dog
Read full article: Inkster man accused of killing 60-year-old with kitchen knife, stabbing victim’s dogAn Inkster man is accused of killing a 60-year-old with a kitchen knife and then stabbing the victim’s dog before fleeing the scene, officials said.
Detroit man charged with leaving scene, reckless driving in crash that killed 32-year-old woman
Read full article: Detroit man charged with leaving scene, reckless driving in crash that killed 32-year-old womanA Detroit man has been charged after he swerved onto a sidewalk and killed a 32-year-old mother who was walking to a nearby store, officials said.
Mother, uncle charged after shotgun ‘accidentally fires,’ injuring 4-year-old boy in Taylor
Read full article: Mother, uncle charged after shotgun ‘accidentally fires,’ injuring 4-year-old boy in TaylorA mother and her brother have been charged after the woman’s 4-year-old son was “accidentally” shot with a shotgun at a Taylor home, and the siblings initially provided a false police report, authorities said Wednesday.
Detroit man charged with murder of wife, who was found in basement of home, police say
Read full article: Detroit man charged with murder of wife, who was found in basement of home, police sayA Detroit man has been charged with murdering his 34-year-old wife, who was found in the basement of their home, police said.
Ecorse High School assistant principal accused of committing sex crimes with 10-year-old relative
Read full article: Ecorse High School assistant principal accused of committing sex crimes with 10-year-old relativeThe assistant principal of Ecorse High School was arrested Monday on accusations that he committed sex crimes with a 10-year-old relative, officials said.
Highland Park man charged after girlfriend found dead in apartment hallway
Read full article: Highland Park man charged after girlfriend found dead in apartment hallwayA Highland Park man has been charged in the murder of his girlfriend, who was found dead over the weekend in the hallway of an apartment building, police said.
Police: 15-year-old hurt teen at Detroit gas station, stood over him, fired fatal gunshots
Read full article: Police: 15-year-old hurt teen at Detroit gas station, stood over him, fired fatal gunshotsA 15-year-old boy is facing a murder charge on accusations that he injured a teenage acquaintance with a single gunshot at a Detroit gas station, stood over him and fired several more shots at close range, killing him, according to police.
Detroit man charged with murder, assault after 2 separate armed robberies, police say
Read full article: Detroit man charged with murder, assault after 2 separate armed robberies, police sayA Detroit man has been charged with murder and assault after two armed robberies that took place less than three weeks apart, police said.
16-year-old boy, 12-year-old girl charged in connection with Wayne County school threats
Read full article: 16-year-old boy, 12-year-old girl charged in connection with Wayne County school threatsTwo students, a 16-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, have been charged with directing threats at Wayne County schools.
Former Detroit police Sgt. accused of embezzling $30K from prisoner ATM cards
Read full article: Former Detroit police Sgt. accused of embezzling $30K from prisoner ATM cardsA former sergeant with the Detroit police has been charged with embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from prisoner ATM cards.
Officials update school threat cases for 11 students (ages 9-17) around Metro Detroit
Read full article: Officials update school threat cases for 11 students (ages 9-17) around Metro DetroitOfficials have provided updates on 11 students from Detroit, Wyandotte, Harper Woods and Waterford Township who were either charged or taken into custody for school threats.
Detroit man home for holidays after wrongfully serving 26 years in prison
Read full article: Detroit man home for holidays after wrongfully serving 26 years in prisonA recently exonerated Detroit man says he is extra thankful this holiday season, as he’s finally home after serving more than 25 years behind bars.
In-home caregiver stabs Detroit man multiple times, shoots him with shotgun, killing him, police say
Read full article: In-home caregiver stabs Detroit man multiple times, shoots him with shotgun, killing him, police sayThe in-home caregiver of a Detroit resident is accused of killing the older man by stabbing him multiple times and shooting him with a shotgun, police said.
‘Tired of excuses’: Detroit family frustrated driver not yet charged nearly 2 years after sister’s death
Read full article: ‘Tired of excuses’: Detroit family frustrated driver not yet charged nearly 2 years after sister’s deathOn Dec. 15, 2019, Vanessa Simmons was on her way to work as a Detroit Police Department dispatcher when a man got on the Lodge Freeway, driving the wrong way and plowed into her head-on. Nearly two years later, the man has yet to be charged.
Detroit teen faces 29 charges in non-fatal shooting of 2 adults, 3-year-old at gas station
Read full article: Detroit teen faces 29 charges in non-fatal shooting of 2 adults, 3-year-old at gas stationA Detroit teenager has been charged in connection with a shooting that injured two adults and a 3-year-old child at a gas station, officials said.
‘This behavior is not tolerated here’: Roseville woman faces charges after assaulting Muslim woman at airport
Read full article: ‘This behavior is not tolerated here’: Roseville woman faces charges after assaulting Muslim woman at airportOn Friday, 39-year old Alexandra Lynn Farr faced a judge for charges in connection with an incident on a Spirit Airlines flight.
Roseville woman charged in connection with assault of Muslim woman at Detroit Metro Airport
Read full article: Roseville woman charged in connection with assault of Muslim woman at Detroit Metro AirportA Roseville woman has been charged in connection with the assault of a Muslim woman at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
Civil rights group pushes for hate crime charges after Muslim woman reportedly attacked on airplane at Detroit Metro Airport
Read full article: Civil rights group pushes for hate crime charges after Muslim woman reportedly attacked on airplane at Detroit Metro AirportAïcha Touré was on a Spirit Airlines flight from Atlanta to Detroit when she tried to break up what was turning into a yelling match in front of her.
Detroit police officer charged with involuntary manslaughter in crash that killed attorney Clifford Woodards
Read full article: Detroit police officer charged with involuntary manslaughter in crash that killed attorney Clifford WoodardsA Detroit police officer has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after crashing their vehicle into another vehicle in February, killing a well-known lawyer.
Man charged with murder in connection with Livonia deadly stabbing
Read full article: Man charged with murder in connection with Livonia deadly stabbingA Detroit man has been charged with second-degree murder in a deadly stabbing at a Livonia intersection, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.
Former Michigan State basketball star Keith Appling charged with murder
Read full article: Former Michigan State basketball star Keith Appling charged with murderFormer Michigan State University basketball star Keith Appling is facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with a fatal Detroit shooting in May.
Driver charged in death of 9-year-old boy who was riding ATV
Read full article: Driver charged in death of 9-year-old boy who was riding ATVDETROIT – A 20-year-old man accused of reckless driving was charged Monday in the death of a 9-year-old Detroit boy who was struck while riding an all-terrain vehicle. Daveon Hardiman of Roseville was driving in the wrong direction and over the speed limit Saturday when he struck the ATV, authorities said. Hardiman was charged with reckless driving causing death, the Wayne County prosecutor's office said. The boy was identified as Mai’Juan Calderin. Read more: 9-year-old boy killed in Detroit by car driving wrong direction on one-way streetOriginal Story: Young child riding a 4-wheeler hit by a car and killed on Detroit’s east side
Former Detroit-area union treasurer charged, accused of embezzling close to $50K
Read full article: Former Detroit-area union treasurer charged, accused of embezzling close to $50KDETROIT – A Detroit woman has been charged after she was accused of stealing money from the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO branch and Laborers International Hall of Fame (LIHOF). Prosecutors said Long served as treasurer of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO branch and LIHOF, allegedly embezzling close to $50,000. A July 2018 financial review of accounting records revealed several unauthorized payments made to Long over the years. Prosecutors said that in 2018, representatives of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO and LIHOF reported embezzlement to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, leading to an investigation. It never ceases to amaze me the level of hubris that alleged embezzlers have,” said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
Detroit man charged with 1st degree murder in shooting death of Uber driver
Read full article: Detroit man charged with 1st degree murder in shooting death of Uber driverDETROIT – A Detroit man has been charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm in the death of an Uber driver in January. According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, 25-year-old Carlous Skipper Jr. is accused of killing 43-year-old Yousef Al-Gabri. Prosecutors said that Skipper allegedly used a phone under a different name to call for an Uber. Officials alleged that when the driver arrived, Skipper shot him multiple times, fatally wounding him. On March 9, an investigation led to the identification and arrest of Skipper, who was arraigned Thursday.
How Kym Worthy broke barriers becoming first Black female Wayne County prosecutor
Read full article: How Kym Worthy broke barriers becoming first Black female Wayne County prosecutorDETROIT – Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy achieved several milestones when she took the position in 2004. “I took the bench in January of 1995, and then returned to the prosecutor’s office nine years after that as the elected prosecutor,” Worthy said. Worthy has been working in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for decades, but when she took office in the early 2000′s, she became the first Black woman in the position. We convicted on-duty white police officers for beating to death a Black man, and juries convicted them of murder. It was the first case in the United States where that had happened where on-duty police officers were convicted of murder.
Grosse Pointe Park man who displayed KKK flag facing Black neighbor won’t face charges
Read full article: Grosse Pointe Park man who displayed KKK flag facing Black neighbor won’t face chargesGROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. – Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy characterized the Ku Klux Klan flag displayed in a Grosse Pointe Park home as despicable and traumatizing but not a crime under the law. Under Michigan’s ethnic intimidation statute, it requires physical contact or damage and defacement to property. The flag has since been taken down after Grosse Pointe Park police went to the home. PREVIOUS: Residents protest KKK flag displayed in Grosse Pointe Park home facing Black neighbor“The way the ethnic intimidation law is written in Michigan, there had to be contact,” said JeDonna Dinges, who lives next door. The neighbor told police that the flag was put up because Dinges had a camera pointing into his home.
Detroit man released from prison after judge dismisses charges in 1994 murder conviction
Read full article: Detroit man released from prison after judge dismisses charges in 1994 murder convictionOn Thursday, Feb. 4, the now-45-year-old became a free man -- a moment his daughter Nakira Fantroy has been waiting for. Smith was convicted of first-degree murder and felony firearm on Nov. 29, 1994, in the death of Kenneth Hayes when Smith was only 19 years old. There was no conclusive forensic evidence that linked Mr. Smith to the case,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement. “There was testimony in the case from a jail house informant claiming that Smith had confessed the murder to him. The dismissal of charges comes after an investigation by Prosecutor Kym Worthy and the WCPO Conviction Integrity Unit, headed by director Valerie Newman.
Wayne County prosecutor to dismiss all local cases related to state COVID-19 executive orders
Read full article: Wayne County prosecutor to dismiss all local cases related to state COVID-19 executive ordersDETROIT – The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is dismissing all pending and adjudicated cases in the county related to COVID-19 executive orders issued by Gov. Prior to the court’s ruling, the Prosecutor’s Office and law enforcement issued ordinance violations and misdemeanors to people who allegedly violated the Emergency Management Act. But with the court’s ruling, the Prosecutor’s Office reviewed the cases and “determined that there is not a legal basis to proceed with them.”AdMore than 1,600 cases are in Detroit. “However, considering the Supreme Court’s decision, WCPO will no longer use criminal prosecution to enforce the governor’s Executive Order. It is my earnest hope that people will continue to wear face masks, social distance, quarantine when warranted.”Cases related to order violations to be dismissed (WCPO)
Detroit man fights for freedom after nearly 50 years in prison for crime he says he didn’t commit
Read full article: Detroit man fights for freedom after nearly 50 years in prison for crime he says he didn’t commitDETROIT – Ray Gray has been in prison for nearly 50 years, one of Michigan’s longest serving inmates. For decades, Barbara Rinehart dreamed about the day her husband walks out of prison as a free man. He’s been filling canvases with wonder ever since, but a talented prison artist is just part of Gray’s story. But the cell remained locked tight, even after the intervention of Ellis Stafford, the deputy director of the Detroit Crime Commission who is convinced of Gray’s innocence. “He’ll fight to prove his innocence when he’s out if that’s what it takes but he won’t confess to something he didn’t do.”
Detroit man charged in shooting death of 22-year-old woman
Read full article: Detroit man charged in shooting death of 22-year-old womanDETROIT – Detroit resident Jason Mikel Craighead has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Catrina Griffin. The shooting took place on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at around 10:56 p.m. in the 8500 block of Heyden Street in Detroit. Police say the shooting happened after an argument between Griffin and Craighead. According to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Craighead pulled out a gun and fired it at Griffin after the argument escalated. Craighead, 42, has been charged with first degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm.
Detroit man charged in Dearborn road rage shooting
Read full article: Detroit man charged in Dearborn road rage shootingDEARBORN, Mich. – A 38-year-old Detroit man has been charged in connection with a road rage shooting in Dearborn, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors have charged Luis Berrios-Rosario with assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, discharged of a firearm from a vehicle, felonious assault and four counts of felony firearm. The shooting happened Sunday in the area of Warren Avenue near Chase Road. Prosecutors said the the victim was traveling westbound on Warren Avenue toward Greenfield when he allegedly noticed a vehicle driving erratically. The victim allegedly drove alongside the Berrio-Rosario’s vehicle when he pulled out a gun and fired, striking the victim’s vehicle.
Rise in COVID-19 cases put jury trials on hold again
Read full article: Rise in COVID-19 cases put jury trials on hold againThe Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said there have been three people in the office that tested positive for COVID-19, they were not in courtrooms and they have been quarantined. Jury trials just resumed at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, but this week brought mass courtroom confusion. One attorney writing the presiding judge about trials put on hold: “I understand jury trials have been suspended for the time being (or that’s the talk around FMHJ).”The presiding judge responded: "Yes, jury trials have been halted due to an increase in COVID cases and positive case in the WCPO.”The first case to be put on hold was Trevaun Pearson. Pearson doesn’t have the $200,000 bond and has to wait inside the Wayne County Jail. McConico said the court has not conducted any jury trials since March, and no summons were sent this month.
Teen clerk charged with second-degree murder in fatal shooting at Detroit gas station
Read full article: Teen clerk charged with second-degree murder in fatal shooting at Detroit gas stationDETROIT – An 18-year-old gas station clerk has been charged with second-degree murder after shooting and killing a 30-year-old man inside of the store on Oct. 12. Mohammad Hizam, of Hamtramck, was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder, manslaughter and two counts of felony firearm, officials said. Hizam is accused of fatally shooting 30-year-old Joshua Lewis with a rifle inside of a gas station convenience store in the 10070 block of Gratiot Avenue. The teen clerk then allegedly picked up a rifle while behind an enclosed glass portion of the store and shot Lewis once in the chest. He is being held on a $500,000 cash bond and is scheduled to appear in court next on Nov. 4.
Wayne County prosecutors return warrant to DPD for further investigation in gas station shooting on Gratiot
Read full article: Wayne County prosecutors return warrant to DPD for further investigation in gas station shooting on GratiotDETROIT – The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has returned a warrant submitted by the Detroit Police Department for further investigation in the shooting death of a man at a gas station on Gratiot Avenue. According to prosecutors, the warrant was missing documents needed to complete its review. Joshua Lewis was shot and killed by the gas station’s clerk Monday. “The Gratiot gas station shooting occurred on Monday, October 12th. Witnesses said the 18-year-old clerk shot Lewis from behind the bulletproof glass with an AK-47.
Man freed after 26 years of wrongful imprisonment for Detroit murder
Read full article: Man freed after 26 years of wrongful imprisonment for Detroit murderDETROIT – An innocent man who wrongfully served 26 years in prison for a Detroit murder has been released on Wednesday. “We made the decision long ago to never give up fighting for Mr. Hamilton’s release. And, even sadder, is that Mr. Hamilton’s case is not unique," said Mary Chartier, one of Mr. Hamilton’s lead attorneys. In Mr. Hamilton’s case, the ‘snitch’ claimed in numerous cases that men — men who were strangers — had spontaneously confessed murder to him. This is just one of the travesties that occurred in Mr. Hamilton’s case.
Suspect in Plymouth barricaded situation who chased mother into bedroom with knife facing multiple charges
Read full article: Suspect in Plymouth barricaded situation who chased mother into bedroom with knife facing multiple chargesPLYMOUTH, Mich. – On Monday, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced charges against 41-year-old Todd Willard Holgate in connection with a Plymouth barricaded situation that happened over the weekend. The incident started as an assault by Holgate against his 69-year-old mother. She went inside the apartment and locked the door. He was armed with a knife inside the apartment and started chasing his mother into her bedroom. The victim called Plymouth police who went to the apartment complex.
Westland man charged in fatal shooting on Holly Street in Dearborn
Read full article: Westland man charged in fatal shooting on Holly Street in DearbornDEARBORN, Mich. – A Westland man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting in Dearborn that left a 26-year-old man dead, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors charged Brandon Kournoian, 29, with felony murder, first-degree home invasion, felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of felony firearm. The incident happened Sunday in 2700 block of Holly Street. Prosecutors said Kournoian allegedly got into an argument with the victim, identified as Keith Thomas, of Dearborn, before it escalated to a physical altercation and the victim was shot. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, who was transported to a hospital and succumbed to his injuries.
Former City of Wayne councilman charged in plot to plant gun, drugs in city employee’s vehicle
Read full article: Former City of Wayne councilman charged in plot to plant gun, drugs in city employee’s vehicleWAYNE, Mich. – Former City of Wayne Councilman Christopher James Sanders, 51, is charged in his connection with planting a starter pistol and fake drugs in a city employee’s vehicle. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said Sanders paid Jimmie Lee Chandler to break into the city employee’s vehicle and plant a starter pistol and fake drugs without her knowing it. The employee wasn’t stopped by police, but when she found the pistol and fake drugs in her glovebox, she called the Wayne Police Department. Both of them have been charged with false report of a felony, conspiracy to commit false report of a felony and attempted false report of a felony. Sanders received a $10,000 personal bond.
Man says he took in Highland woman accused of putting baby in trash can
Read full article: Man says he took in Highland woman accused of putting baby in trash canDETROIT – A man said he tried to help a Highland woman, who is accused of dumping her baby in a trash can. The man, who was not being identified, said he found the woman, 23-year-old Jennifer Woodard, in a crisis, walking near Brightmoor. “She was deciding to give it up for adoption,” the man claimed. The man claimed someone was with her at that time. Prosecutor’s Office accused Woodard of putting her baby in a trash can.
2 Detroit men charged with first-degree murder in shooting death of 31-year-old
Read full article: 2 Detroit men charged with first-degree murder in shooting death of 31-year-oldDETROIT Two Detroit men have been charged with first-degree murder in the July shooting death of a 31-year-old Detroit man, the Wayne County Prosecutors Office announced Friday. Matthew Lamar Williams-Brockman, 24, has also been charged with felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of felony firearm. Devonte Dalvin Kenney, 22, has been charged with assault with intent to murder, felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of felony firearm. Detroit police responded to a shooting at about 1:46 a.m., July 28, at a home in the 16200 block of Cheyenne Street. Police said Brockman and Kenney allegedly followed the victim before shooting him.
Ohio woman charged in Detroit crash that killed two of her children and severely injured another
Read full article: Ohio woman charged in Detroit crash that killed two of her children and severely injured anotherDETROIT On Saturday, Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy charged 23-year-old Zantea Marie Jackson-Pool in connection with a Detroit crash that killed her 2-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. Police say the crash happened on Thursday at around 8:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of Field Street in Detroit. In addition to Jackson-Pool and her three children, a 29-year-old man and 19-year-old woman were also in the vehicle during the crash. The 2010 Gold GMC Acadia was being driven by a by a 44-year-old woman with a male passenger inside. She has been charged with two counts of reckless driving causing death, two counts of driving while license suspended causing death, two counts of reckless driving causing serious injury, two counts of driving while license suspended causing serious injury and three counts of second degree child abuse.
Detroit man charged in double fatal car crash
Read full article: Detroit man charged in double fatal car crashDETROIT Detroit resident Shawn A. Patterson, 22, has been charged in connection with a fatal car crash that killed two people. The victims are 26-year-old Hazel Park resident Leon Freeman and 33-year-old Detroit resident Teon Williams. Police and medics arrived at the crash scene and the two victims were dead. The suspect has been charged with two counts each of reckless driving causing death; failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death and moving violation causing death. Fatal car crashes have increased exponentially over the past year, most as a result of carelessness, recklessness, or gross negligence by the driver that caused the event.
Dearborn man charged with first-degree murder in death of 29-year-old woman
Read full article: Dearborn man charged with first-degree murder in death of 29-year-old womanDETROIT – A Dearborn man is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a 29-year-old woman who was found dead in her bathtub in April. After an investigation, 32-year-old Dearborn resident Hassan Alwaily was identified as a suspect, police said. The continuing investigation and additional evidence resulted in charges of Felony Murder and First-Degree Murder filed against Alwaily. “The work that was done by the Dearborn Police Department and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s spanned 24 days almost around the clock. I want to publicly thank all of the Investigators in this case for their tireless work despite the mounting challenges of the Coronavirus," said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.