Off-Duty Dearborn Police Officer Nabs Car Burglars

An off-duty Dearborn police officer sprung into action on Tuesday after noticing two men dumping items from a backpack in the area of New York and Telegraph Road at approximately 5 a.m.

The officer watched the men, with full backpacks strapped to their bodies, rummage thru the backpacks and discard items as they walked. After calling for backup, police stopped and spoke with the two men. A subsequent investigation determined that the backpacks were full of various GPS units, iPods, power cords, sunglasses and other personal items.

Through an additional follow up investigation, officers discovered that several of the GPS units, as well as other items, belonged to Dearborn residents, whose vehicles had been broken into overnight.

Dearborn Heights residents Eric Jonathon Speller, 18, and Elijah Rashard Brown, 18, were arraigned on two felony counts of larceny from a motor vehicle and one count of misdemeanor larceny. 

A preliminary exam has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 6 in the 19th District Court.

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad urges all residents to be vigilant for suspicious persons and vehicles in their neighborhood.

"Residents should contact the police immediately if someone appears suspicious or out of place," Haddad said.