Boy, 13, Arrested In Oakland County Home Invasions Targeting Young Girls: Sheriff

PONTIAC, MI — A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a string of Pontiac and Detroit home invasions, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

The teen, whom police are not naming, was placed in the Oakland County Children's Village, as charges from the prosecutor's office were pending, according to the sheriff's office.

"I know there was tremendous anxiety and fear in the community, and I wanted to bring it down
a notch," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "We wanted to let the community know they can take a breath. This kind of case is the worst possible nightmare for any parent or their child."

Police said the boy broke into a home in the 100 block of N. Anderson Street in Pontiac and choked a 10-year-old girl who was sleeping Tuesday morning. The boy, who was armed with a knife and wearing a ski mask, was frightened off by the girl’s screams, according to officials.

The girl was not injured in the incident, according to officials.

Investigators believe the boy entered the home through an unlocked kitchen window.

The boy is also linked to eight other home invasions (or attempted home invasions) in Pontiac and two in Detroit, which were unreported, dating as far back as 2022, according to officials.

In each case, the lone suspect entered the home or attempted to gain entry through an unlocked window, according to officials.

Investigators believe the suspect was targeting residences with teenage/adolescent girls. The suspect possessed a knife in at least three of the Pontiac incidents and one in Detroit, according to officials.

Bouchard credited and thanked the public for helping solve the case by calling in tips that
ultimately led to the arrest.

"He was targeting the homes of young girls," Bouchard said. "It’s terrifying. Any adult would
shudder at the thought, let alone a child."