Thieves Use Stolen Pickup To Break Into Wayne County Party Store; Steal Liquor, Lottery Tickets: Police

LIVONIA, MI — One man has been arrested and police are looking for another after an early-hour break-in at a party store and leading officers on a chase through Wayne County last week, according to police.

The incident happened last Thursday at 5:46 a.m. at the Mirage Market located at 28292 Joy Road in Livonia, according to police.

Police said a nearby 911 caller told officials that two people arrived at the party store in a red Dodge Ram pickup truck. They then smashed the front doors with sledgehammers before pulling the doors open with the pickup truck, according to police.

Surveillance video inside the store showed the two people take liquor, lottery tickets and cash before fleeing the parking lot in the pickup truck, according to police.

Officers quickly spotted the pickup truck, which they determined was stolen out of Monroe County, moving east on Joy Road with its headlights off, according to police.

When officers tried to stop the pickup truck, the driver sped away, taking officers through Livonia and Redford, according to police.

During the chase, the passenger inside the pickup truck jumped out and ran away, according to police.

Shortly later, police said the driver abandoned the pickup truck and also fled on foot, but officers quickly captured him. He was identified as Marcus Martez Purnell, 32, of Detroit.

Purnell was charged with four felony counts, including breaking and entering, possession of burglar's tools and fleeing and eluding. He was placed in jail and given a $10,000 bond.

Police are still looking for the second suspect. No description was provided.

While searching the stolen pickup truck, officers said they found a large quantity of "high-end liquor," seven display boxes of unscratched lottery tickets with a retail value of about $7,500 and assorted tools such as sledgehammers and a chain. Police believe they used those tools to smash their way into the party store.

The stolen alcohol and lottery tickets were returned to the business.

While the investigation continues, police released video of the incident: