Police Blotter: Theft of Jewelry Under Investigation

are investigating the theft of several valuables from the home of an 83-year-old resident who suspects her son is the thief. The woman reported the theft Sept. 2 and provided police with a list of stolen items, which included a $15,000 three-carat diamond ring, a $500 brass mantel clock, a $250 brass mantel clock, $250 brass candleholders, a $100 silver herringbone necklace, a $50 sterling silver ring, and a $50 sterling silver bracelet. The woman told police her son is not welcome at her home but he enters it when she is not home, according to a report. 

Items Stolen as Man Moves Out

A 37-year-old man moving out of a home in the 800 block of Neff Road Sept. 3 reported that several items had been stolen from inside during the day as he and his brother went back and forth between the old home and the new home. While driving away from the Neff Road house, the man spotted his landlord, with whom he's had numerous problems, driving past. Upon returning to the Neff Road home, he found that several tools, an iPod and two DVRs were missing from various areas of the house. The items were valued at $3,600. There were no signs of forced entry to the home. About 45 minutes after the man filed the police report, the landlord came to the police station to ask for an officer to do a walk-through with him during an inspection of the Neff Road property. When questioned about the timing of his arrival, the man became very defensive. An officer did not escort the man for the inspection but told him that detectives would be contacting him Sept. 6, according to a report. 

Driver Sideswipes Van

City of Grosse Pointe police arrested a 42-year-old Detroit man Sept. 2 about 3:45 p.m. near Cadieux and Maumee for alleged drunken driving. A motorist called 911 to report the man after seeing him cross the centerline on Jefferson Road and sideswipe a van traveling in the opposite direction near Fisher Road. The caller continued following the man, who was weaving in and out of his lane of traffic and an officer stopped him on Cadieux near Maumee. When the patrol officer approached, the man had slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet but he did not smell of alcohol. He was not able to successfully complete field sobriety tests and was taken to the hospital for a blood test. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office charged the man with felony operating a vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle on a suspended or revoked license, failure to stop at the scene of a crash and with habitual offender. The drunken driving charge was elevated to a felony because the man has two prior drunken driving convictions from 1990 and 2000 in the metro area.

Warrant Arrest

City of Grosse Pointe police arrested a 42-year-old Detroit woman Sept. 2 after she was reported as acting suspicious at a Mack Avenue business. When an officer approached the woman, it was discovered that she had five outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions for failing to appear on retail fraud, larceny and other charges. 

Pursuit Ends After Speed Increases

A man led Grosse Pointe Farms police on a pursuit early Tuesday, Sept. 6, after being spotted speeding on Calvin Avenue shortly before 1 a.m. The officer had just finished checking a house on the 400 block of Touraine, whose owner called because he heard noises inside and believed someone had broken in. The house did not have any signs of entry. The driver speeding on Calvin refused to stop for the officer, who turned on his emergency lights and sirens. The driver led the officer from Calvin to Opal to Canyon and then to East Warren. When he neared Marseilles, the driver picked up the speed and the officer stopped the pursuit and gathered the vehicle's license plate and information, according to a report. 

Unpaid Bar Tab Ends in Arrests

Grosse Pointe Farms police arrested a man and a woman Sept. 3 after they left the bar and grill without paying for the nearly $40 in drinks they consumed. A responding officer spotted the woman as described by an employee and the 45-year-old Detroit woman tried to push past the officer when he approached. Then, while the officer was cuffing one hand, the woman used her other hand to reach around and try to grab the officer's gun. The officer forced her onto the hood of her car and finished handcuffing her without her getting ahold of the weapon. The man described by employees, a 46-year-old City of Grosse Pointe man, returned to the restaurant while the officer was arresting the woman and then he was arrested, too. Both were charged with fraud, and the woman was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after a pipe was found in her car. She was also charged with obstructing police. A search of each revealed the woman had $40 cash and the man had $350 cash on their persons, according to a report. 

Benches Stolen

A 37-year-old man reported to Grosse Pointe Farms police that two decorative benches were stolen from in front of 18416 Mack Ave. overnight from Sept. 2 to 3. Damage to a decorative fountain suggests the thief also tried to take it but was unsuccessful. The benches are valued at $150 each and the fountain at $600, according to a report. 

Woman Alleges Fraud

A woman who has the power of attorney for her aunt's financial accounts reported to Grosse Pointe Farms police that her cousin had been illegally forging checks and using a debit card from the accounts. The woman told police she is authorized to use the money in the accounts to pay her aunt's bills but the 39-year-old cousin has been illegally accessing the money. The woman closed the aunt's accounts and reopened new accounts to prevent any more incidents. The bank asked that she file a police report. 

For questions on the police blotter, email sara.martin@patch.com.