Man Charged In Plymouth-Canton Ballet Company Trailer Theft: Police

PLYMOUTH-CANTON, MI — An Ohio man is facing charges after stealing a Plymouth-Canton Ballet Company trailer that was full of props and parked outside a Canton dance studio, according to police.

Brandon Keel, 20, of Toledo, was charged with one count of larceny $20,000 or more and one count of receiving and concealing stolen property $20,000 or more.

He is also facing the same charges in Plymouth Township after police said he stole an additional trailer in the township, according to police.

He was placed in jail with a bond set at $20,000. He will also face an additional bond in Plymouth Township. Each charge carries a maximum 10-year penalty in prison.

A white pickup truck was seen driving away with the trailer attached outside the Elite Dance Force in the 8100 block of Ronda Drive in Canton Township during the overnight hours on Nov. 17, according to police.

The black, enclosed 24-foot trailer contained all the larger props intended for the theater's upcoming performance of The Nutcracker, which stared more than 80 children from the area, according to police.

The ballet's artistic director, June Smith, told the Detroit News the trailer housed roughly $1,500 in items, including a grandfather clock, a fireplace and an extendable Christmas tree.

While police were investigating the theft, the community helped raised more than $18,000 through a GoFundMe page so the show could still go on, which it did on Dec. 7 and 8.

The group used the money to buy a new prop trailer and other materials to replace the stolen props.

Police did not say if the original trailer was recovered during the investigation.