Harper Woods

Police log another busy weekend

By April Lehmbeck
C & G Staff Writer

HARPER WOODS — While police were working 24 hours a day trying to hunt down a murder suspect from last week’s fatal shooting on Old Homestead, they spent another busy weekend tackling several major incident reports.

From a domestic-assault stabbing to an armed robbery, police had their hands full last weekend, while continuing their homicide investigation that led to an arrest this week.

Police received almost 300 calls for service from Feb. 14-18. Their work during that period included investigating 10 domestic assaults, making three traffic arrests, executing one felony warrant, handling 16 suspicious persons/circumstances and making a number of misdemeanor arrests.

“We had a wide variety of very serious (offenses) all being committed in a very (short time frame),” Burke said.

While police had a number of serious incidents during a period of several days, they also brought in a number of suspects in those incidents, as well.

“People are being identified and tracked down,” Burke said, adding that they are going to continue to be diligent to ensure the safety of the community.

“We’re just very proud of the effort that our people put in,” Burke said of the patrol officers and detectives in the department who tackle cases in the city.

Before the weekend even started, one of several notable incidents within the five-day period occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Feb. 14 with an encounter with a reckless trio of vehicle theft suspects.

Police officers spotted the suspects as they tried to push a stolen 2013 Ford Taurus from a parking lot in the 20200 block of Vernier. They were pushing the Taurus with what police believe was a stolen minivan.

When the suspects saw the officers, they fled.

“The suspects abandoned the Taurus upon seeing officers and nearly rammed the scout car after exiting the parking lot,” police Lt. Robert Hunter said. “The Ford was recovered and is being processed for evidence.”

Shortly after 9 p.m. Feb. 15, Family Dollar was targeted by an armed robber, who was arrested over the weekend by another metro Detroit police department. A gun was found as well as the evidence from the Family Dollar robbery, according to police information.

On Feb. 17, police were called out for two major incidents in the city, a stabbing and a vehicle theft that resulted in the arrests of three teens.

The domestic violence incident involved a previously married couple who lived together in the 18900 block of Woodcrest.

A 53-year-old woman literally stabbed her ex-husband in the back in the early morning Feb. 17, police said. He was taken to the hospital with the knife in his back, according to police information.

Police found the woman in the neighborhood and she faces charges of attempted murder.

Burke said that the man suffered significant injury, but was expected to survive.

Later the same day, police responded to Eastland Center for an auto theft. A trio of teens were trying to take a Chrysler Grand Caravan shortly after 6 p.m., according to police information.

The teens were 14 and 15 years old. They tried to run from the scene, but they were taken into custody in Detroit following a foot chase with police.

On Feb. 18, police received a report about a 62-year-old woman who was assaulted by a man she knew, who was helping her move from the house, according to police information.

The incident took place at about 5 p.m.

Police have the suspect and are continuing their investigation with charges pending in the case. A laptop was reported missing in the incident.

The suspect “assaulted her, tied her up in her home” and stole from her, Burke said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer April Lehmbeck at alehmbeck@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1043.