Troy Police Blotter Update: Retail Fraud, Assault and Battery

This week's update from Troy Police contained three retail frauds, two indecent exposures, and much more. See what area police have been up to.

Larceny From Yards

Panera Bread, 268 John R Road. On Jan. 21 between 6 p.m and 8 p.m.,the manager noticed that an unknown suspect(s) stole all the restaurant’s outdoor furniture from semi-enclosed area near the dumpster. Seven tables and approximately 17 chairs were taken.

Carrying a Concealed Weapon Violation

Northbound Stephenson Highway, North of E. Maple Road. On Jan. 22 at 1:47 a.m., Troy police initiated a traffic stop to check on the welfare of the driver of a black 2007 Mercedes Benz. The officer spoke with the driver, a 57-year-old Bloomfield Hills man, who told the officer there was a firearm in the center console. The officer asked the man to step out of the vehicle, located the loaded firearm and rendered it safe. The driver told police he had a Concealed Weapons Permit for the gun, but it was expired. Police determined the driver ineligible to hold a concealed carry permit. The driver was arrested. When police asked about drugs in the car, he admitted there was some marijuana inside the vehicle. The officer located suspected marijuana under the driver’s seat and field tested it with a narcotics test kit, drawing a positive reaction for marijuana. The driver was charged with Carrying a Concealed Weapon in a Motor Vehicle Violation, Concealed Weapons Safety and Registration Violation, and Possession of Marijuana.

Drugs/Narcotics of Interest

Drury Inn Parking lot, 575 W. Big Beaver Road. On Jan. 21 at 12:14 a.m., an officer was driving through the hotel parking lot and noticed a silver 2007 Dodge Ram Picked Truck parked on the south side of the complex with its engine running. The officer approached the vehicle, and saw two people sitting inside. The officer spoke to the driver, a 30-year-old man, and his 25-year-old female passenger, both from Davison. The officer noticed an odor of marijuana inside the car and asked the driver about it. The man surrendered a bag of suspected marijuana, along with an expired medical marijuana card. The officer also asked to see the contents of a tray that was under the armrest of the bench seat. The driver gave the officer the tray, which contained suspected cocaine. The tray did actually contain the driver’s current medical marijuana card. The suspected cocaine was field tested, drawing a positive reaction for the drug. Both suspects were arrested and charged with Possession of Cocaine.

Northbound Crooks Road, North of Kirts Boulevard. Jan. 18 at 2:46 p,m., an officer stopped the driver of a black 2002 Ford Explorer for driving erratically. The officer spoke with the driver, a 40-year-old Mount Clemens woman, who he says was confused about where she was and where she was going. She was asked to step out of the vehicle, and complied with the officer’s request for a pat-down. She was found to be in possession of some prescription medication – Schedule 2 Motrin 10 with Hydrocodone. She perform ed poorly on several field sobriety tests, according to the officer. During these evaluations, the woman said she takes Alprazolam for anxiety. She was arrested and transported to the Troy Police Lock-up Facility where she was read her Chemical Test Rights and agreed to submit to a Blood Test. Her blood was drawn by medical personnel and she was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Narcotics pending laboratory results.

Southbound Main Street, South of W. Maple Road, 1/19/2018, 3:59 PM: Officer initiated a traffic stop on the driver of a silver 2017 Chevrolet Malibu for a traffic violation. The officer spoke with the driver, a 25 year old male from Royal Oak, and noted an odor of marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle. The driver was asked to step out of the vehicle to which he complied. When asked where the marijuana was, the driver patted his right front coat pocket. The officer retrieved a plastic bag that contained suspected marijuana from that pocket. The suspected marijuana was field tested with a narcotics test kit with the officer receiving a positive reaction for the presence of marijuana. The male subject was arrested and charged with Possession of Marijuana. 18-2075

Eastbound W. Big Beaver Road, West of Coolidge Highway. On Jan. 20 at 8:08 p.m., an officer stopped the driver of a silver 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for a traffic violation. The officer spoke with the driver, a 31-year-old Warren man, who admitted he didn’t have a valid driver’s license. He also said he had just purchased the car in Ohio, but did not have insurance for it. Police confirmed that the driver’s Michigan license had been suspended by the Michigan Secretary of State since 2008 for No Proof of Vehicle Insurance and he had several convictions of Driving While License Suspended. The driver was arrested and while being searched, the officer located 2 and a half pills in the coin pocket of his jeans. The pills were found by police to be acetaminophen and oxycodone and acetaminophen and oxycodone hydrochloride. The suspect was charged with Driving While License Suspended – 2nd or Subsequent Offense, No Vehicle Insurance, and Illegal Possession of Synthetic Narcotics.

Tower Construction, 2900 W. Maple Road. Sometime between 2 p.m. on Jan. 16 and 4 p.m. on Jan. 19, an employee discovered unknown suspect(s) shattered the right window of the Bobcat Earth Mover kept parked at the construction site, possibly with a B-B Gun.

Northbound Interstate 75, North of W. Fourteen Mile Road. On Jan 11 at 10:55 a.m., the victim was driving his Ford F150 on the interstate when he heard a loud noise. Thinking his vehicle had been struck by a stone, he thought nothing of it. Upon returning home, he discovered that his passenger door had been struck by a bullet. The victim is unable to provide any possible suspect(s) and stated he had not been involved in any road-rage type incident while traveling on the roadway.

Credit, Check, Identity Theft, Other Fraud

2000 block of Amberly Lane. On Jan, 20, the victim was notified that unknown suspect(s) used her name to file for unemployment benefits. The victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how her personal information was compromised.

1000 block of Ashley Drive. On Jan. 16, the victim was notified by his employer that unknown suspect(s) used his name to file for unemployment benefits. The victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how his personal information was compromised.

2000 block of Connolly Drive, 12/10/2017. The victim discovered that unknown suspect(s) used his name to file for fraudulent State of Michigan Unemployment Benefits. Victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how his personal information was compromised.

1000 block of Lakewood Driv. On Jan. 15, the victim was notified by the State of Michigan that unknown suspect(s) used her name to file for fraudulent unemployment benefits. Victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how her personal information was compromised.1

3000 block of Bristol Drive. On Jan. 19, the victim was notified by her employer that unknown suspect(s) used her name to file for State of Michigan Unemployment Benefits. Victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how her personal information was compromised.

2000 block of Russet Drive. On Jan. 23, the victim discovered that unknown suspect(s) used her name to file for fraudulent State of Michigan Unemployment Benefits. Victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how her personal information was compromised.

2000 block of Hampton Lane. On Jan. 14, the victim discovered that unknown suspect(s) used her name to file for fraudulent State of Michigan Unemployment Benefits. Victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how her personal information was compromised. 18-2478

1000 block of Fairways Boulevard. On Jan 22, the victim discovered that unknown suspect(s) used his name to file for fraudulent State of Michigan Unemployment Benefits. Victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how his personal information was compromised.

1795 Maplelawn Driv. On Jan. 15, an employee was notified that unknown suspect(s) used his identity to file a fraudulent unemployment claim. Victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how his personal information was compromised.

2000 block of Ridge Drive. On Jan. 17, the victim was contacted by Saks Fifth Avenue inquiring if she had completed $6,000 worth of purchases on-line with her credit card. The victim told Saks the purchases were fraudulent and the order was cancelled. It was determined that unknown suspect(s) gained access to her credit card using the last four digits of her Social Security Number and changed the billing address to one located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The perpetrators also changed her e-mail and home phone number.

5000 block of Slate Drive. On Jan. 15, the victim received a notice from a debt collection agency regarding some past due balances and discovered some accounts that had been fraudulently opened using her address, date-of-birth, and cell phone number. The victim did not give anyone permission to do such and believes a former friend from Roseville is responsible for opening the accounts.

2000 block of Townhill Street. On Jan. 4, the victim was notified that unknown suspect(s) used his identity to file a fraudulent unemployment insurance claim. Victim did not give anyone permission to do such and does not know how his personal information was compromised.

1000 block of Farmbrook Drive. On Jan 7 at 10 p.m., the victim received a pop-up ad she thought was from Microsoft, advising her that her computer was infected and she needed to contact Customer Support with a number provided. The victim called the number and was asked to confirm her name, Social Security Number, her computer password, credit card account numbers (as they convinced her that those would be protected as well), and her banking account numbers. After ending the conversation, she felt she had been scammed. She contacted her bank the next day to cancel her credit cards and advised them of the breech of her account numbers. She discovered unknown suspect(s) made two fraudulent gift card purchases with PayPal, each totaling $100.

Larceny From Yards

2000 block of E. Square Lake Road. Sometime between Jan. 10 and Jan. 16, the victim says an unknown suspect(s) stole the license plate off his 1999 Jeep while the vehicle was parked in his garage. The plate was later recovered at an elementary school in Flint.

Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated

7-Eleven, 2891 Crooks Road. On Jan. 18 at 1:30 a.m., an officer inside the store was alerted by a motorist that a silver 2016 Toyota Rav 4 had just pulled into the parking with a flat tire with what looked like fresh damage from an accident. The officers spoke with a subject who was outside the vehicle, inspecting the shredded front tire to the vehicle. The subject, a 37 year old male from Orland Park, Illinois, stated he had struck a pothole and was attempting to drive back to his hotel. The officer noted an odor of alcohol on the man’s person and asked him to perform several sobriety evaluations that the officer noted he performed poorly. He submitted to a Preliminary Breath Test with a result of .14%. He was arrested and charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol – 1st Offense.

Southbound Interstate 75, North of W. Long lake Road. Jan. 20 at 10:15 p.m., officers responded to reports of a single vehicle crash - a car had driven off the roadway into the ditch. The officers located the vehicle, a blue 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer, and spoke with the driver, a 40-year-old Pontiac man. The driver said he lost control of the vehicle while driving south on the interstate. The officers noted that the driver was slow and seemed lethargic, with glassy, bloodshot eyes. Officers asked him to step out of the vehicle several times before he complied. Officers noted he had trouble maintaining his balance while walking. The officers say they smelled alcohol on the driver, who then refused to perform any sobriety evaluations and wouldn’t take a Preliminary Breath Test. He was arrested and taken to the Troy Police Lock-up Facility where he was read his Chemical Test Rights but refused to submit to a Breath Test. A search warrant for a Blood Test was drafted and signed by a local magistrate. The search warrant was executed and the driver’s blood was drawn by medical personnel. He was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol pending laboratory results.

Breaking and Entering

4000 block of Chatfield Lane. On Jan. 19 between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., a homeowner was upstairs after returning from a short trip and began doing housework. When she came downstairs, she noticed that the front door was unlocked, which it should not have been. Upon further investigating in the residence, the homeowner discovered the back door to the patio was wide open. Police determined that an unknown suspect(s) pried open the back door, realized the house was occupied, and then fled out the front door. Nothing was taken from the home.

Retail Fraud

Kohl’s Department Store, 500 John R Road. Jan. 22 at 1:02 p.m., a A 53-year-old Detroit man tried to steal $164.50 worth of merchandise before being stopped by Loss Prevention. The suspect gave the stolen merchandise back and fled through the parking lot, eventually crossing John R Road. The suspect was spotted by the responding officers and arrested. While being searched, the officers located a crack pipe in his left front pocket. He was charged with Retail Fraud – 2nd Degree and Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia.

Sunglasses Hut, 2800 W. Big Beaver Road. On Jan. 22 at 8:09 p.m., the store’s sales supervisor said two people came into the business and one of them stole $285 worth of merchandise before walking out. The responding officers located the suspects in Nordstrom’s and spoke with them. The suspects, a 20- year-old woman and 22-year-old woman from Windsor, Ontario, denied stealing the merchandise and allowed the officers to search them. The stolen item was not found in their possession but other merchandise was, including $66 worth of merchandise from Victoria’s Secret, and merchandise from Apple, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Nordstrom. The stolen merchandise from the Sunglasses Hut was found nearby and deemed to have been discarded by the suspects as the officers approached. The suspects admitted to stealing the items in their possession including the discarded merchandise and were arrested. The 22-year-old suspect was charged with Retail Fraud – 2nd Degree while the 20-year-old suspect was charged with Retail Fraud – 3rd Degree.

Apple Store, 2800 W. Big Beaver Road. On Dec 19, 2017 at 5:35 p.m., a 32-year-old River Rouge woman came to the business with her 9- and 1-year-old daughters and tried to steal $214.85 worth of merchandise before being stopped by Loss Prevention. She was released at the scene by the responding officers and criminal charges for Retail Fraud – 1st Degree will be sought against her through the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

J. C. Penney, 700 W. Fourteen Mile Road. On Jan. 8, one of the store’s loss prevention officers conducting an inventory discovered unknown suspect(s) had stolen $6,549.93 worth of merchandise from the business.

Kohl’s Department Store, 500 John R Roa. On Jan 17 at 2:17 p.m, one of the store’s loss prevention officers reported that two subjects came into the business and stole $170 worth of merchandise. The subjects drove away in a white Chevrolet Malibu and one was identified as a 19-year-old Detroit woman.

Target, 1301 Coolidge Highway. On Jan 12, at 12:53 p.m., a Target loss prevention officer was able to determine that a 57-year-old Birmingham woman detained in the store had previously stolen merchandise from the business. On Dec 3, 2017, the suspect stole $98.99 worth of merchandise before returning on Dec. 16, 2017 and stealing $148.98 worth. On Jan. 4, the suspect stole $9.68 worth of merchandise, before committing a final retail fraud at the business on Jan. 12 and being arrested.

Kohl’s Department Store, 500 John R Road. On Jan. 18 at 12:30 p.m., loss Prevention Officers report that an unknown subject came into the business and stole $65 worth of merchandise that was for sale in the store. The subject was approached by the Loss Prevention Officers and proceeded to run from them, last seen heading across John R Road toward the Oakland Mall. 18-1932

Walmart, 2001 W. Maple Road. On Jan 17 at 8:00 p.m., A 22-year-old Troy man tried to steal $34 of merchandise before being stopped by loss prevention staff. He was released at the scene by loss prevention officers who will seek criminal charges for Retail Fraud – 3rd Degree through the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

Walmart, 2001 W. Maple Road. On Jan. 10 at 4:00 p.m., A 17-year-old Royal Oak boy tried to steal $48 of merchandise before being stopped by loss prevention staff. He was released at the scene by loss prevention officers who will seek criminal charges for Retail Fraud – 3rd Degree through the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

Victoria’s Secret, 2800 W. Big Beaver Road. On Jan. 18 at 3:14 p.m., loss prevention staff reported an unknown subject had just left the store after stealing $409.60 worth of merchandise. The subject was found inside the Somerset Collection and was arrested. He was carrying multiple fraudulent driver’s licenses, a fraudulent United States Social Security Card, and a fraudulent credit card. The subject identified himself as being the person on one of the fraudulent driver’s licenses, but then gave an incorrect date-of-birth. He was also found to be in possession of a tool bar and an anti-theft device that had been removed from one of the pieces of merchandise he had stolen. After being transported to the police lock-up facility, he was fingerprinted. The 33-year-old Detroit man was found to have several felony and misdemeanor warrants for his arrest. He was charged with Retail Fraud – 1st Degree, Possession of a Counterfeit Object, Identity Theft, Possession of Fraudulent Identification with Intent on Committing Identity Theft, Hinder and Obstruction of a Police Officer, and Possession of an Anti-Theft Detection Deterrent Device.