Parole Violator Among 3 Men Arraigned for Thefts Across Nation

Chesterfield Township police said three men who were arraigned Thursday on felony charges of possessing stolen property—including a pickup truck from Utah—are part of an ongoing investigation with the Michigan State Police and two other law enforcement agencies.

The three men were arrested on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 26, after they were found at the Chesterfield Motor Inn with stolen property, according to a statement from Chesterfield Township Detective Sgt. Deron Myers.

One man, 22-year-old Joseph Norman Chambers of Richmond, is a parole absconder, police said.

Chambers was arraigned at 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore via video from the Macomb County Jail on Thursday on charges of receiving and concealing a stolen vehicle; receiving and concealing stolen property over $1,000; and possession of a stolen credit card. Chambers was given a bond of $100,000, Myers said.

David Tomayco, a 19-year-old Richmond resident, and 18-year-old Jake Cooper of Chesterfield Township were arraigned on the same charges, Myers said.

Tomayco was given a $75,000 cash bond, and Cooper was given a $50,000 cash bond.

Police officers arrested the three men after responding to an alarm at the PetCo store on 23 Mile Road and Gratiot, according to Myers.

While checking on the alarm at PetCo, Chesterfield Township police observed three men acting “suspiciously” in the adjacent parking lot of the Chesterfield Motor Inn, according to the report.

Upon further investigation, police said they discovered the pickup truck the men were in had been reported stolen from Cedar City, Utah, on Jan. 1. Police also said they discovered a duffel bag in the truck contained a large assortment of jewelry, large tools, and personal identifications from Cadillac, Michigan, and the state of Oklahoma.

After arresting the men, Chesterfield Township detectives searched a room at the motel where the men had been staying. Police said they found a large collection of dated coins, an extensive collection of stamps, jewelry, silverware sets, stereo and recording equipment, and miscellaneous identifications and credit cards not belonging to the men.

Chesterfield Township police said the investigation is ongoing, and that they are working with the Michigan State Police, as well as police in Utah and Oklahoma.