Shelby Township

Teen arrested in armed robberies

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — A Shelby Township teen accused of robbing several people in the township at gunpoint will be in court again Feb. 23 for his preliminary examination.

Police Chief Robert Leman said they received a report Feb. 2 from two Macomb Township teenagers who said they were robbed at gunpoint by a masked man while they were cutting through an area near a fitness center on Lakeside Boulevard North. The teens told police they only had a small amount of cash on them at the time.

Two days later, police received a report from a man leaving the fitness center who experienced a similar crime, and also told police the robber was armed with a gun.

“Because of working out, (he) had very little (money) with him,” Leman said.

Leman said they suspected the thief lived nearby because he was always striking in the same place and when they briefed other officers on the situation, “one of the detectives said he had a case a few weeks back that fit the general description.”

Police were able to locate the suspect’s mug shot and were granted a search warrant for the man’s home, where officers found the jacket the suspect had allegedly been wearing during the crimes, as well as a BB pistol that fit the description from the victims.

Leman said the man was arrested on probable cause and confessed to the crimes late in the evening Feb. 5.

The suspect, 17-year-old Davonte Neely of Shelby Township, was arraigned on charges of armed robbery Feb. 8 and is being held on a $100,000 bond. He will be in 41-A District Court next at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 23.    

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1041.