Madison Heights

Second suspect charged in Jared Jewelry incident

By Andy Kozlowski
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « The Jared Jewelry at 451 W. 14 Mile has been struck twice by thieves in recent months: first in September, when a wristwatch was forcibly stolen from a store employee, and again in January, when one of the same suspects tried to break into the jewelry cases and fled empty-handed in a stolen van, crashing into innocent civilians before running away on foot. — Photo by Edward Osinski The Jared Jewelry at 451 W. 14 Mile has been struck twice by thieves in recent months: first in September, when a wristwatch was forcibly stolen from a store employee, and again in January, when one of the same suspects tried to break into the jewelry cases and fled empty-handed in a stolen van, crashing into innocent civilians before running away on foot. — Photo by Edward Osinski Jordan Quinn 0 Jordan Quinn

MADISON HEIGHTS — Another suspect has been captured in the Jared Jewelry heist that resulted in a serious car accident when the two would-be thieves fled in a stolen van and crashed into innocent civilians, severely wounding them before the suspects fled on foot.

Jordan Quinn, 19, of Detroit, is said to be the accomplice in the crime that occurred Jan. 7. He was arraigned by Magistrate Kimberly Wilson in Madison Heights 43rd District Court on Wednesday, Jan. 23. He is charged with two counts of armed robbery, punishable by up to life in prison on each count, and is being held on $200,000 cash bond or surety.

Quinn was arrested in an undisclosed area in Detroit on Jan. 20, once he was located by a confidential source. Federal agents from The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives team in Detroit apprehended him on a separate warrant.

“He was cooperative,” said Madison Heights Deputy Police Chief Corey Haines. “He did have a broken hand that we believe he suffered in the car accident (last month).”

The first suspect, Breyan Fuqua, 19, of Lima, Ohio, was captured the day of the incident, and arraigned by Magistrate Kimberly Wilson in Madison Heights 43rd District Court Jan. 10.

Fuqua was also charged with two counts of armed robbery. In addition, he was charged with the following:

• One count of receiving and concealing stolen property (motor vehicle), punishable by up to five years in prison, and/or a $10,000 fine or three times the value of the motor vehicle, whichever is greater.

• One count of reckless driving causing serious impairment of a body function, punishable by up to five years in prison, and/or a $1,000 to $5,000 fine, and reimbursing the government for emergency response and expenses prosecuting the defendant.

• One count of failure to stop at the scene of an accident resulting in serious impairment or death, punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.

• One count of larceny from person, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, for a previous incident in September 2012, when he and an accomplice allegedly entered the same jewelry store, pretended to be interested in making a purchase, and then forcibly snatched the watch from the clerk’s hand while filling out the paperwork for a purchase, running off with the watch.

Police do not believe Fuqua’s accomplice in the September incident is the same person from the most recent incident. Haines did say he found it interesting they struck the same location twice.

Fuqua is being held on $335,000 cash or surety bond.

As previously reported, the incident occurred early in the afternoon Jan. 7. Police say the two suspects entered the Jared Jewelers at 451 W. 14 Mile. When asked by an employee what they were looking for, Fuqua allegedly sprayed the employee in the face with pepper spray. He also allegedly sprayed a second employee close by.

While the employees, now OK, were temporarily blinded, the suspects each used hammers to try and break open different cases, one containing men’s jewelry, the other containing women’s. They did extensive damage, but failed to steal anything.

They fled in their 2007 Dodge Caravan — one stolen from a 38-year-old Warren woman out of the 32000 block of John R the evening of Jan. 6.

The employees called police and described the suspects and their getaway vehicle. While en route to the store, officers saw a vehicle matching the description traveling southbound on John R, approaching 13 Mile. 

Before the police could even complete their U-turn to try and catch up, the possible suspect vehicle crashed into the driver’s side of a red 2009 Chevy Impala traveling eastbound on 13 Mile and turning south onto John R. The two occupants of the vehicle, both Madison Heights residents, were severely hurt and transported to Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital. Both had numerous broken bones and other internal injuries.

“I want to be clear, though, this was absolutely not a police pursuit,” Haines previously said.

The suspects abandoned their vehicle and ran away on foot. Fuqua was reportedly spotted crossing John R on foot near LaSalle, the first block south of 13 Mile. Officers pursued him on foot and captured him in a nearby parking lot. Once captured, he didn’t resist any further, and was taken to the police station without incident.

As for the victims, a husband and wife, the husband was released from the hospital in late January, while at press time the wife remained in intensive care.

“It would appear she’s recovering, but it’s just a very slow process,” Haines said.

In the meanwhile, authorities are pleased to have in custody the two men they believe were directly involved in the Jared Jewelry incident — but the case isn’t over yet.

“We believe there may be a few more individuals that were involved,” Haines said. “We’re still working on some leads in that direction before we feel the case is closed.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Andy Kozlowski at akozlowski@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1104.