By Jennifer Chambers, MediaNews Group

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office failed to establish a timely incident command and was late to dispatch fire crews in response to the Oxford High School shooting, according to an independent investigative report released Monday.

The office did not establish a formal incident command at Oxford High School until 25 minutes after a teenage gunman who went on a murderous rampage was in custody, according to an after-action review of the emergency response to the 2021 school shooting.

The 275-page report found no evidence of neglect or dereliction of duty by individual responders, but noted that failing to quickly establish an initial command and promptly integrate with other public safety agencies can lead to severe consequences.

“Successful incident command operations in the first five minutes of a critical event often determine response success. These operations include not only ‘sizing up’ a scene, but also a brief description of initial actions, and instructions for additional responding personnel,” investigators wrote in the report’s executive summary.

Nearly 560 emergency personnel responded to the scene from more than two dozen agencies. But poor communication and inadequate training hamstrung some EMS, police and fire workers, investigators found.

Survivor accounts from the attack revealed a chaotic scene in which nearly 1,600 students and dozens of staff were fleeing the sprawling school building while emergency responders tended to the wounded and dead and police searched for the student gunman.

Although multiple ranking OSCO officers were present, the report says there was a 25-minute gap before a lieutenant assumed the role of incident commander.

“During this 25-minute period, although critical objectives were met and the shooter was apprehended, there was some confusion about where resources should be directed and coordination with public safety officials such as fire/EMS was disjointed,” the report says. “Once command was established, law enforcement agencies were aligned with the roles needed to complete the building clears, secure the interior of the building, and create a perimeter around the outside of the building.”

Release of the Guidepost Solutions report follows a Detroit News investigation that revealed complaints from fire department officials that their crews were dispatched late to the attack. The News also reported that the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office declined to participate in a third-party review of its department’s response as recently as January 2024, a claim that Sheriff Michael Bouchard has denied.

Oakland County government officials approved $500,000 to hire a review firm three weeks after The News’ report. Guidepost was tasked with conducting a comprehensive report evaluating the multi-agency response to the shooting and the recovery effort that followed.

The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, a sophomore at the school at the time, fired his weapon 33 times in the attack and killed Hana St. Juliana, 14; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; Tate Myre, 16; and Justin Shilling, 17.

The report determined that, despite the misteps in response, the victims’ injuries were “inherently fatal” and that a quicker emergency response could not have saved their lives. The conclusion was based on information from a medical examiner’s report and analysis by an independent medical expert.

“Our review determined that the nature and extent of Madisyn, Tate, and Justin’s single gunshot wounds to the head were inherently fatal,” the report says. “Hana sustained multiple gunshot wounds, with resulting abdomen and chest injuries, which were collectively inherently fatal. Even with immediate medical intervention, the experts’ consensus is that the outcomes would not have changed.”

Despite the shooter being apprehended just two minutes after the sheriff’s department arrived on scene, and OCSO ranking personnel arriving on scene within the first seven to nine minutes after the shooting began, incident command was not formally established until Lt. Todd Hill arrived at 1:20 p.m. and initiated command at 1:25 p.m., the report found.

“This constitutes a time gap of approximately 27 minutes after the SRO (school resource officer) and OCSO Deputy 1 arrived on scene, approximately 25 minutes after the shooter was in custody, and approximately 24 minutes after OCSO dispatch confirmed the suspect’s arrest,” the report says. “Lieutenant Hill ultimately established incident command inside the lobby of OHS by a bench across from the administration offices.”

Guidepost found breakdowns in communication regarding the locations of officers and victims early in the response. The first two officers to enter the schools, “while understandably focused on the apprehension of the shooter,” did not provide updates on their movements, victim locations or their conditions via radio, the report says.

“Best practices suggest that, as the first responders on the scene, they are the ‘de facto’ command and should not only announce their entry point but also provide information about what they saw as they came upon the victims in the hallway. Also, due to a lack of effective communication, some efforts were duplicated. Injuries were reported multiple times and OHS surveillance depicted numerous deputies clearing the same hallways.”

A lack of training, for both law enforcement and firefighters, was identified in the report as a challenge.

At the time of the shooting, sheriff’s deputies and supervisors were not sufficiently trained in incident command and unified incident command, Guidepost found. Since that time, the sheriff’s office has instituted programs on those concepts, the report says.

“During this review numerous fire department members indicated that, when on scene at OHS, they did not feel that they were adequately prepared to deal with the chaos and pressures of an active assailant situation,” the report says.

“Departmental training was limited to mass casualty scenarios within EMS continuing education programs. There was insufficient or even non-existent training on the use of ballistic protective gear at the fire department, which was frequently stored away and never utilized by personnel,” the report says. “For many OFD members, the day of the shooting was the first time they donned ballistic vests and helmets.”

Guidepost recommended that fire department chiefs mandate bi-annual active assailant training with the sheriff’s department.

Oakland County Executive David Coulter said he was briefed Monday morning by Guidepost officials and had not yet read the entire report.

“I appreciate the report. It is comprehensive. I think it’s fair,” Coulter said. “We engaged with Guidepost because we’re committed to taking an honest look at how we respond to these kinds of emergency, tragic events, and to see where there could be lessons that we can learn from them, and it certainly appears that there are areas that could be strengthened.”

Coulter said there was a very successful and courageous response by first responders and a lot of things done right.

“And I continue to be proud of the people who responded on that horrible day,” he said.

Dispatch delay found

In its report, Guidepost identified a delay in dispatching the Oxford Fire Department in response to early 9-1-1 calls that came in at 12:52:32 with a definitive report of injury.

At 2:19 minutes into the call, at 12:54:51, the caller confirmed a victim was shot, the report says. At 12:52:59, information regarding shots fired was dispatched to all OCSO units. Oxford Fire Department was not dispatched until 12:59:56, Guidepost says.

“Best practices suggest dispatch should be within 15-30 seconds of receipt of a call, and within no more than 60 seconds. The call data reviewed indicates that the call takers recognized this incident as a confirmed active shooter event well before the decision to dispatch the fire department,” the report says.

“OCSO follows the practice of waiting to dispatch fire departments until confirmation of an injured party is established. Although OCSO asserts that this is based upon directions from fire departments, we suggest that in low occurrence-high threat events such as active shooter incidents, especially those at schools, it is logical that all necessary resources be dispatched even before confirmation of injuries.”

The Guidepost report critiqued the response and offered recommendations to improve emergency preparedness and response to incidents, including a recommendation to Oakland County to ensure that a formal after-actio review is conducted for all multi-agency critical events in the county.

In interviews with The Detroit News in 2024, Oxford Fire Chief Matthew Majestic and Addison Fire Chief Jerry Morawski said they self-dispatched their crews when the high school came under attack.

While both chiefs said the dispatch delay did not impact their treatment of victims as fire and EMS crews staged outside the school until police worked to secure the scene, Majestic told The News then that the delay cost his department valuable time to develop a plan ahead of treating victims, four of whom died. It’s an aspect of the tragedy he has struggled with for years.

“Had they toned us out, we could have been staging and ready and organized,” Majestic told The News in 2024. “I know we would have reviewed the maps, probably made changes to who is responding and where. … We would have had more people on the scene. … We could have made a better-educated triage. … You took away that opportunity of building a plan.”

The role of school resource officers

Guidepost, a New York-based investigations, regulatory compliance, monitoring and security consulting firm, found there was no protocol during the shooting for detailing responsibilities of the school resource officer in relation to non-police school security. School resource officers (SROs) are armed, certified police officers.

The issue stands out because the SRO at Oxford High School was not required to remain on campus and was not present at the time the shooting began, having left earlier for an investigation at Oxford Middle School and a stop at the substation. On the same day, the school security officer was absent on pre-approved leave.

“Consequently, a part-time armed hall monitor was the sole armed individual at OHS. Going forward, expectations must be clearly delineated regarding SROs and school security,” the report says. “There should be protocols in place between the district/school and OCSO about alternative security measures when school security is unavailable.”

Investigators did identify “certain breakdowns in command, coordination, communication, and training, which demonstrate the need for improved rapid response protocols, rescue task force (RTF) training, and enhanced tactical medical readiness.”

Fire and emergency response

In the area of fire and emergency services responses, the report says both command and communications were “hindered” during the incident when fire command at the scene moved all fire communications to a different radio channel.

“This was intended to facilitate information-sharing among all responders. However, fire personnel within OHS were unaware that the radio channel was changed and repeatedly called command on the wrong channel, receiving no response,” the report says. “Dispatch did not intervene to redirect units to the correct channel or have command switch channels.”

Guidepost recommended that dispatch be alert for misrouted communications and proactively redirect personnel to the correct channel, and that fire departments review and revise policies and practices of switching radio channels during critical incidents. The report added: “When a switch occurs, it should be announced by dispatch with a ‘tone out’ to alert all on the channel.”

The report also found that in the absence of clear dispatch protocols, fire and EMS personnel were not informed when the shooter was in custody, delaying their entry into OHS by approximately four and a half minutes.

“The computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system did not utilize specific call types for active assailant incidents, and there was no county-wide operating procedure to guide a coordinated response. We recommend that pre-determined CAD call categories be implemented for active assailant events, not only to streamline dispatch practices but also to ensure that fire and EMS are made aware of developments as they occur,” the report says.

Records from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office show Oxford EMS staging outside the high school at 1:00:53 p.m. and transporting the first victim out of the high school at 1:06:32 p.m., 15 minutes after the shooting began.

Guidepost investigators recommended fire departments reconsider their staging practices to provide “greater clarity and coordination” and move to a unified county-wide policy. At the time of the shooting, the policy of fire and EMS departments from both Oakland and Oxford was to “stage” their response by waiting nearby until the scene is declared safe, the report says.

“This creates confusion for both personnel within the department as well as law enforcement, who remain unsure when firefighters and EMS members will enter a scene to render aid,” the report says. “We recommend that Oxford Fire Department (OFD) as well as other departments across Oakland County reconsider staging practices. This requires agencies to evaluate best practice recommendations to forgo staging during active assailant events and clarify whether dispatch instructions to stage are mandatory or advisory.”

Outdated dispatch system

Guidepost described the sheriff’s department’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system as outdated, saying it heavily relies upon manual entry by dispatchers for the transfer of information. It recommends CAD systems be updated to transition from manual to automated entry and that CAD should flag high-risk keywords such as “shot,” “injured,” “weapon,” “gun,” and “active shooter” to trigger response protocols.

The day of the attack, 911 calls were rerouted from Oxford County to Lapeer County. A total of 248 emergency calls would flood sheriff’s dispatch in the first 60 minutes after the attack.

“For example, one call from OHS administration, which proved to be the most valuable for tracing the direction of the suspect, was rerouted to Lapeer. Active shooter incidents can often tax phone systems, as they were not designed for the volume that often occurs after a tragedy. We recommend that public safety organizations establish county-wide policies for handling misrouted 9-1-1 calls and build relationships with local phone service providers to understand how large-scale incidents affect call coverage and routing,” the report said.

Reunification practices

The emergency operations plan for Oxford Community Schools had identified Meijer, a half mile from the school, as the reunification location. Hundreds of students fled there. The report says many Oxford High Schooll families reported a positive experience with the reunification process, the approach fell short in providing sufficient communication and emotional support to the families of the victims.

“The families of Madisyn, Tate, and Hana came to the reunification center with the expectation of reuniting with their children. However, after two hours and no more students arriving from the school, the parents were ushered into a store breakroom where they were informed that their children were killed,” the report says.

Guidepost investigators wrote that in discussions with Madisyn’s mother, Nicole Beausoleil, Buck Myre, and Steven St. Juliana, the families did not approve of the manner or means by which the information was relayed.

“While they understood that there was no perfect way to convey this information, Nicole Beausoleil felt that the words were emotionally disconnected and significantly contributed to the continued trauma suffered. All agreed that OCSO’s delayed disclosure of their children’s passing, repetition of additional buses coming, and overall silence gave the impression that officers were not being forthcoming,” the report said.

Guidepost suggested the reunification process could be improved by broader staff training and formalized protocols.

By Carol Thompson, MediaNews Group

A driver suspected of being under the influence of a substance was arrested after hitting a parked Farmington Public Safety Department vehicle early Sunday, injuring an officer and two others, police said.

The Farmington Public Safety Department officer was helping the Farmington Hills Police Department with a traffic stop at about 1 a.m. Sunday on Grand River Avenue near Drake Road in Farmington Hills when the crash took place.

A driver going eastbound on Grand River Avenue allegedly rear-ended the Farmington Public Safety Department vehicle. That driver’s vehicle then spun into traffic and was hit head-on by another driver who also was going eastbound.

The police officer and two others were treated for minor injuries at a hospital and were expected to make full recoveries. The crash is under investigation by the Farmington Hills Police Department’s traffic unit.

The department did not say in a release issued on social media what substance officers suspect the driver allegedly had been using before the crash.

In its press release, the Farmington Hills Public Safety reminded drivers to move over and slow down when they approach stationary emergency vehicles.

“We are grateful no one was seriously injured or killed in this crash,” the department said. “We would like to thank the Farmington Hills Police and Fire Departments for the care they provided for our officer and the other drivers.”

As an investigation continues into a Sept. 1 shooting at a Rochester Hills hotel where two people were hit by gunfire and one of them died, a  21-year-old man from Cincinnati, Ohio is charged with assault with intent to murder and weapons-related offenses in connection with the incident.

Other people are being investigated for their involvement in the shooting, said Steve Huber, spokesperson for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cincinnati man, Calvin Roger Jones, Jr., is held in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $2 million. The assault with intent to murder charge carries a penalty of up to life in prison. Jones is also charged with carrying a concealed weapon and two counts of felony firearm.

The sheriff’s office identified the victim who died as Mykqelle Rashad Scott, 28, also of Cincinnati, Ohio. Jones is not charged in Scott’s death.

According to the sheriff’s office, the shooting stemmed from an altercation in the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn on South Rochester Road involving at least three people. Scott was killed and the other shooting victim sustained injuries that weren’t life threatening, the sheriff’s office said. A vehicle collision on South Boulevard connected to the shooting didn’t result in any serious injuries, the sheriff’s office said.

Additional information including the possibility of other charges being filed is expected to be released at some point. The Oakland Press will report further on the incident when more details are available.

Accused killer of sister and her child has lengthy criminal past; police said he had written plan to flee after slayings

Case advances against felon accused of killing man in Pontiac drive-by shooting

Suspected counterfeiter jailed; cops recover multiple items from West Bloomfield home

The man accused of cutting the throats of his sister and her child, killing them last week in their Hazel Park home, is no stranger to law enforcement.

As revealed at his arraignment Sept. 5, Ladamien Keith Hill, 43, has a criminal history dating back more than two decades, with convictions for violent crimes including assault and battery and domestic violence, as well as drug- and alcohol-related offenses.

He has fathered seven children, is single and has lived in Redford Township for the past six or seven years with the mother of one of his kids, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

His occupation is listed as a self-employed roofer.

Hill is charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated homicide for the deaths of his sister, 41-year-old Linda Hill, and her child, 12-year-old son, Kardi Jackson. They were found in a “gruesome, bloody scene” at a home located at 23084 Berdeno Street by officers responding to a call from Linda Hill’s uncle on Sept. 1 shortly after 4 p.m.

 

Hazel Park police said Linda Hill’s 64-year-old uncle, who lives in the basement of the Berdeno Street home, told them he had been in the basement all day watching television when he heard loud noises; approximately 15 to 30 minutes later he went upstairs and found Linda Hill unresponsive, then called police.

Officers found Linda Hill lying facedown in the living room, and Kardi Jackson in the laundry room, police said, both with severe cuts to their throats. As of Sept. 5, the weapon used in the homicides hadn’t been recovered, and a motive for the crimes hadn’t been determined, officials said.

Ladamien Hill was arrested the next evening at a home on Whittemore Street in Pontiac where he reportedly had been staying. Officials said they recovered bloody clothing and other evidence — including Hill’s written notes about plans to flee and items he needed to do so, such as a passport, firearms and a car. Hill has also been connected to a red Lincoln seen at the scene of the slayings, police said.

Prior to his arrest — according to family members — after officers had cleared the crime scene Hill had returned to his sister’s home, asked for forgiveness and then lied down naked on Linda Hill’s bed for a few minutes before leaving, police said.

Held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond, Hill is scheduled to return to Hazel Park’s 43rd District Court on Sept. 16 for a probable cause conference, followed by a preliminary exam a week later.

Meanwhile, a donation drive through GoFundMe is ongoing to help cover funeral and memorial expenses for Linda Hill and her son. To pledge, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-funeral-costs-for-linda-and-kardi.

Case advances against felon accused of killing man in Pontiac drive-by shooting

Suspected counterfeiter jailed; cops recover multiple items from West Bloomfield home

By Max Bryan, The Detroit News

Due to a caseload that a lead attorney said has “skyrocketed,” Oakland County prosecutors are asking for nearly a half million dollars from their local government to combat human trafficking.

Following a Human Trafficking Training Center instructional session in November, the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has handled 31 trafficking cases. This rate dwarfs the number from the four years leading up to the training, which averaged eight such cases per 10 months, according to records from the prosecutor’s office.

“Our numbers have skyrocketed in terms of cases, because people know what to look for,” said Cindy Brown, who leads human trafficking prosecution efforts in Oakland County.

Brown’s team consists of of three full-time prosecutors, a part-time prosecutor, a paralegal and an investigator. She said the team is not big enough.

“It’s kind of like having a teacher who has 80 students, right? You can’t have time to spend with 80 students as opposed to 25 or 30 in your classroom,” Brown said.

Because of the caseload, the prosecutor’s office is requesting $457,000 from the county for two paralegals, an assistant prosecutor and salary funding for a chief of the team, spokesperson Jeff Wattrick said.

County Commission Chairman Dave Woodward, D-Royal Oak, confirmed Thursday that this request would be included in the 2026 fiscal year budget, which the commissioners are set to vote on Sept. 18.

Brown’s team members aren’t the only county officials with a new focus on stopping human trafficking in Oakland County. In the field, law enforcement officers with the county sheriff’s office and Auburn Hills, Southfield and Madison Heights police departments have also formed a task force to curb human trafficking, she said.

The officers have conducted stings on illicit massage parlors, which were turned over to Brown’s team for prosecution.

“These people are often violently abused, they have no ID, they have no resources,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald told county commissioners at an Aug. 20 budget hearing.

Woodward said human trafficking cases are “extremely complex” and might initially appear as a minor drug or solicitation offense. But once investigators and prosecutors start looking further, their probe could reveal evidence of trafficking in phone records and bank records — pieces of the investigation that deserve scrupulous attention, said Brown.

Brown said one case her team is prosecuting has 29 cellphones in evidence. Another case included 30 women whom the trafficker mostly communicated with through Facebook Messenger.

“One victim alone was almost 15,000 pages (of text), and that was one person, one piece of evidence,” Brown said.

On top of that, the prosecutor said there’s often a language barrier in the cases. Most of the search warrants written in human trafficking cases are in Mandarin Chinese, she said.

It’s because of these complexities that Brown said her team needs more members — specifically, more paralegals to do research. She called paralegals “the backbone” of her unit.

“There’s just a lot of discovery, and if we’re going to prosecute these cases the way they should be prosecuted, we need the resources. Because otherwise, we’re not going to have the time and the resources to thoroughly and adequately review these cases, follow up on investigations to see what needs to be done, and be prepared in court,” Brown said.

Woodward argued “no other county in Michigan” has invested the resources to curb human trafficking like Oakland County.

“I believe, as we go forward, Oakland County is going to continue to be a leader in helping to keep our communities safe,” Woodward said.

The gray building on University Drive in Pontiac looks like other light industrial spaces. But the building’s current status is complicated by a murder, a cannabis operation and multiple ordinance violations.

Ongoing litigation has frozen the city’s ability to enforce building standards at the site, where businessman Sam Simko was killed on Jan. 12. Three men are scheduled for an April 13, 2026, trial for the Commerce Township man’s slaying.

City officials have long been familiar with the building. In 2021, then-Mayor Dierdre Waterman’s administration granted a business license to four addresses — 1012, 1014, 1016 and 1018 University Drive — to operate as a caregiver’s medical marijuana growing operation, according to city records. Justin Corlin was listed as the business owner. He could not be reached for this story.

Such operations are allowed under the 2008 Michigan Medical Marihuana Act, which states that people who are primary caregivers may grow 12 plants per patient, with a limit of six patients; they cannot grow more than 72 plants. Waterman’s administration never completed plans for a cannabis licensing process for medical or recreational marijuana. Caregiving businesses are considered a separate category.

After Simko’s death, Oakland County sheriff’s deputies recovered an estimated 50 pounds of marijuana, or 800 ounces, found with the three murder suspects. Police did not disclose how many plants were being cultivated in the building but referred to it as a large operation. The value of the recovered 800 ounces of marijuana is unclear, as area retailers’ online prices range from about $60 per ounce to more than $400.

The University Drive industrial warehouse was built in 1987 and is just over 10,000 square feet with 16-foot-high ceilings and four vehicle entrances as well as traditional doors.

While Waterman’s administration listed the four addresses, considered suites, as part of a medical-caregiver grow operation in 2021, city spokeswoman Paula Bridges said only Suites 1012 and 1014, are currently considered a “previously approved non-conforming caregiver operation” owned by Simko.

Suites 1012 and 1014 were leased by Simko from the property’s owner, Precision Investment Group. Precision’s business registration belongs to Bloomfield Hills businessman David Supal. Suites 1016 and 1018 are considered occupied by Precision.

Supal told The Oakland Press his lawyer advised him not to discuss the building or any related litigation.

City officials responding to a 2019 complaint about Simko’s operation learned he had no business license for that site. The code inspector also found that the property had been divided into suites and new addresses added without city approval. The city’s code enforcement action required an architectural drawing to show the separate suites and permits for the construction work.

Bridges said Suites 1016 and 1018 never received permits for operating as a primary caregiver marijuana facility, and “to the best of the city’s knowledge, is not engaging in any marijuana grow operations.”

On Aug. 27, 2024, nearly five months before Simko’s death, Pontiac building official Bruce Eck visited Suite 1016 to investigate a complaint. In his notes, which are public record, he wrote “marijuana facility is illegally open. They will need to cease and desist immediately.”

Eck’s inspection notes state that the operation did not meet zoning requirements and that police might get involved if the operation wasn’t shut down in the next seven days and the property owner could be ticketed.

The record shows he last visited Suite 1016 on Jan. 6 and approved the work. But the text on that same page dated Jan. 14 notes that the inspection was improperly marked and that the building’s owner still needed the city’s zoning board’s approval to operate as a medical marijuana facility. The text states Suite 1016 needed a fire-safety inspection and permits for evident construction work, as none had been pulled. The text ends with a message highlighted by two asterisks: “Please note that previous use in this building [was] never approved for medical marijuana facility.”

Bridges said Eck inspected Suite 1016 on Sept. 4, 2024, and scheduled a progress check for March 17. His notes show he planned to verify that proper permits had been obtained and the suite met standards for a certificate of occupancy. But he was fired on March 10 after three abandoned children were found in a filthy townhouse on the city’s west side. Eck is suing the city for wrongful discharge.

Because of the litigation between Precision and the city, Bridges said, “the building division has not taken any action” to re-inspect Suites 1016 and 1018 and Precision has not requested any new permits.

On Jan. 14, two days after Simko’s body was found in the University Drive building, Eck visited Suite 1018 and prohibited occupancy. He scheduled a progress check for March 18, according to city records. Litigation has also precluded code inspectors from following up and Supal’s company has not applied for any new permits, Bridges said.

Precision still “has no city approvals to operate any business (at Suites 1016-1018),” Bridges said, adding that, to city officials’ knowledge, no cannabis being grown at those suites.

Eck visited Suite 1012 on July 10, 2024, and tagged the door with a notice that the business did not have a certificate of occupancy, which is granted only after permitted work is completed and passed city inspections. He and the fire marshal returned on Sept. 4, 2024, for a final inspection. “All OK,” Eck’s inspection note said.

On the same date, Eck issued a certificate of occupancy to Suite 1014.

Suites 1012 and 1014 are each listed on the city’s building records as “a legal non-conforming medical marijuana caregiver facility.”

A preliminary examination is scheduled for the case against a Pontiac woman accused in an alleged road rage incident that led to a Clarkston man being hit by a car outside a Meijer store and suffering a broken leg last month.

Samantha Jaynes, 25, is charged with felonious assault and a misdemeanor charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident for the alleged Aug. 20 incident in Auburn Hills. The exam will be held before 52-3 District Judge Laura Polizzi who will be presented with evidence and then determine if probable cause exists for the case to be bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

Police said the incident unfolded at around 7 p.m. on Aug. 20 during a road rage altercation on I-75. Jaynes reportedly followed the man to the Meijer’s drive-through pharmacy; he exited his car and an argument ensued. Jaynes allegedly pepper-sprayed the man and then hit him with her car as she backed up. Jaynes fled the scene but was later arrested and charged.

Jaynes was let out of jail on Aug. 22 on a personal bond, which requires no cash or surety to be posted.

If convicted of the felonious assault charge, Jaynes faces up to four years in prison and/or a $2,000 fine. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $100 fine.

Michigan saw uptick in traffic crashes, related fatalities in 2024

Motorcyclist suffers severe injuries in collision with car in Pontiac

‘Absurd and unacceptable’: Sheriff calls out magistrate for setting man free after he allegedly shot at woman, toddler

 

Students in Michigan have returned to school and with that comes a need for drivers to stay on alert and aware of school buses cruising through communities picking up children and dropping them off.

“Traffic tends to spike during the first days of school as many parents opt to drive their children,” Adrienne Woodland, a spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group said in a news release. “We advise adding 30 minutes to your morning commute. Drivers running late are more prone to speeding, which endangers lives.”

Motorists also need to be aware of Michigan’s laws requiring motorists to stop when approaching a school bus pulled over with its red lights flashing and STOP arm extended.

The only exception is on a divided highway with a raised divider, yet 20% of Michigan respondents in a survey by AAA admitted to driving around a school bus while its red lights were flashing, which could result in fines and fatalities. A similar survey by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimated nationwide there were more than 43.5 million illegal school bus passings during the 2022-2023 school year.

AAA provided this explanation of the laws in Michigan: “When it comes to a two lane street all drivers moving in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

“In the case of a multi-lane paved median all drivers moving in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is clear of children AND the school bus stop arm is withdrawn.

“Traffic approaching an oncoming school bus on a divided highway do not need to stop if there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic. However, these motorists should slow down and watch for students loading or unloading from the bus.”

AAA offers drivers these tips for school zone safety:• Avoid distractions• Remain focused on the road. No texting, eating or multitasking while driving.• Brake for safety• Slow down and stay alert. School zones are unpredictable, so be ready to stop at a moment’s notice.• Keep a watchful eye on pedestrians and bicyclists• Be aware of school zone signs, crossing guards, AAA School Safety Patrollers, and anyone walking or biking. Always yield and drive cautiously.

Other survey stats:• 46% admitted to speeding in an active school zone.• 33% admitted to using their hand-held cell phone while driving in active school zones.

Nationwide, nearly one out of every five children (age 14 and under) killed in traffic crashes are pedestrians, however, safety experts say distracted walking can be just as dangerous as distracted driving.

“Now is the time to talk to your children about traffic safety,” Woodland said. “Discourage students from wearing earbuds or looking down at digital devices while standing at the bus stop or walking near traffic. Otherwise, they may not hear an approaching vehicle.”

As part of its School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign, AAA has put together a guide for  parents of young pedestrians and offers the following tips:

For student pedestrians

• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings and avoid using headphones or looking down at your phone when near traffic.• Use sidewalks where available. If not, walk against the direction of traffic so you can see oncoming vehicles.• Make yourself easier to be seen by wearing reflective, bright colored clothing.• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street to make sure the vehicle is stopping.

For bicyclists and those using scooters

• Always wear a helmet.• Ride with traffic and use bike lanes when you can.• Do not wear headphones so you can detect approaching traffic.• Cross streets at intersections- not from between parked cars.

For students riding the bus

• Arrive at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.• Stand five steps away from the curb.• Wait for the bus to stop completely and for the bus driver’s signal before boarding.

By Candice Williams, MediaNews Group

One person is dead and at least one other was injured after a “chaotic incident” Monday that began as a fight in the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn in Rochester Hills and ended in a traffic crash near Rochester Road and South Boulevard, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

In a social media post Monday night, officials said at least three people were involved in the altercation in the hotel parking lot, and two were shot. Oakland County Sheriff’s officials did not make clear who did the shooting.

“While no one sustained serious injuries in the vehicle collision, two of the at least three individuals involved in the parking lot altercation were shot, and one has died,” the Facebook post read. “Three people connected to this incident have now been identified, and we are investigating to see if others were involved.”

There is not an ongoing threat to the public, officials said, adding that more details will be released as the investigation continues.©2025 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Four Detroiters who fled Oakland County Sheriff’s deputies while in a stolen car were chased down and arrested Thursday morning, suspected of trying to break into several vehicles in Rochester Hills, officials said.

According to the sheriff’s office, the pursuit started at around 6 a.m. when deputies were dispatched to the 1500 block of Pembroke Street on a report of multiple individuals trying to enter parked vehicles and reportedly saw one of them in the midst of the crime. Deputies attempted a traffic stop, but the driver and three passengers drove off at a high speed. After the driver lost control of the car and crashed near the Livernois and Avon roads intersection, the four bailed out and ran, the sheriff’s office said — but they were subsequently located and taken into custody.

The sheriff’s office said deputies established a perimeter and were assisted by the K9 and drone units to catch the suspects. The four are lodged in the Oakland County Jail pending issuance of charges from the prosecutor’s office.

“This case is an excellent example of teamwork and the use of our specialized resources to protect the community,” Sheriff Mike Bouchard stated in a news release. “Deputies, K9 and drone units worked seamlessly to quickly apprehend all four suspects. We remain committed to holding those who victimize our residents accountable.”

The suspects are in their early- to mid-twenties, the sheriff’s office said.

An investigation by detectives with the sheriff’s auto theft unit and Rochester Hills substation continues, the sheriff’s office said.

Fire engulfs large Independence Township home

 

Three drones will be added to Waterford Township’s police inventory.

Police Chief Scott Underwood asked township trustees to amend the 2025 budget and move $110,000 from the police salary account to the department’s capital improvement fund to pay for the drones, docking stations, software integration, training, support and maintenance.

Trustees unanimously approved his request at Monday’s meeting.

The one-time expense will not affect officers’ pay, he said, as the department’s budget includes money for 64 officers but six positions are vacant and will not be filled this year.

The drones will operate under a three-year, $399,000 contract with Georgia-based Flock Safety, he said, and supplement officers’ body cameras. The drones can send a livestream back to the emergency operations center.

“Technology doesn’t call in sick, take vacation or personal days or have bad days,” he told trustees.

Several residents attending the meeting expressed concern that the drones would be used to invade people’s privacy, violating the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which bars unreasonable searches.

Underwood said 55 police agencies across the U.S. are using Flock’s Aerodome drones and, like the 12 license-plate readers installed across Waterford, will only be used to record live events happening in public places.

The 55-pound drone is classified as a small drone, according to the FAA, but has four rotors, live video capabilities with thermal imaging and a 30-minute battery, which recharges in 30 minutes. It can be operated remotely from a desktop computer or cellphone app.

Video footage is retained by police for 30 days, he said, unless it’s needed as evidence of a crime or there are judicial or administrative reasons to retain it, such as substantiating or refuting a claim about police conduct.

Although he referred to the drones as first responders, Underwood said the machines would be used to give officers a bird’s-eye view of situations. One example, he said, is a drone launched to check a report of a suspicious vehicle behind a building. The drone would show officers whether the car was still there.

“If it’s not, the officer can focus on other situations,” Underwood said, adding that Waterford is a safe community and that is a tribute to the officers on duty.

Underwood said any officer or dispatcher interested in drone training, which is included in the contract, will be allowed to take it. FAA certification is required for drone flights 400 feet or higher or operated near airports. Oakland County International Airport is on the township’s west side.

He told The Oakland Press he is working with Flock and the FAA on details, but expects to have three to six people trained and drones ready in the next 30 days.

He said drones will improve officer safety and that the Flock license plate readers, which are mounted on utility poles, helped detectives find the two suspects in a November 2024 fatal shooting in the MJR Theater parking lot.

“We made arrests within 24 hours,” he said.

Court doc says Waterford slaying linked to drug deal; victim named 

The drones will be stationed in three parts of the township for quick response, Underwood said. He would not disclose the drones’ base locations for security reasons.

By Kara Berg, MediaNews Group

The mother of Oxford High School shooting victim Madisyn Baldwin said on Friday that she doesn’t see the $500,000 she accepted from the school district as a settlement — she sees it as an ultimatum from them.

Nicole Beausoleil, who sued Oxford Community Schools along with three other families for its role in a 2021 mass shooting, said she took the money from the district not because she was giving up on enacting change within Oxford schools, but because she had to think of Madisyn’s father and her three younger siblings.

“I felt (the $500,000) was the only measure I’d get from the tragedy to help them do everything they deserve to do,” Beausoleil said. “It was very hard for me to do. I really didn’t want to take it. I didn’t want it to show like I gave up, which I didn’t give up. I knew it was a take it or leave it type of deal. I felt in my heart I couldn’t make the decision only for myself.”

Beausoleil’s 17-year-old daughter Madisyn was one of four kids killed at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. Justin Shilling, 17, Tate Myre, 16, and Hana St. Juliana, 14, were also killed.

Beausoleil and Justin’s family were the only two to take the settlements. The Myres and the St. Julianas rejected it. The settlements were connected to federal lawsuits the families filed, alleging the district failed to protect students and downplayed the threat the killer posed to the school.

“I just want the change. I want people to see the bigger picture here, not look at this as two families gave up and took the settlement,” Beausoleil said. “It’s not a settlement, it’s an ultimatum. Take it or leave it, you have this many hours to decide. There wasn’t anything about it that was sincere or remorseful.”

The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December 2023, though he is appealing both the sentence and his guilty plea to the Michigan Supreme Court.

The panel of three judges from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded former counselor Shawn Hopkins and former dean of students Nick Ejak did not display a callous indifference toward the risk they perceived the shooter posed prior to the Nov. 30, 2021 attack and that Oxford schools had immunity and could not be sued. The wrongful death lawsuit was dismissed May 20.

Oxford Schools attorney Tim Mullins said the offer to the families before the 6th Circuit decision was $1 million, and it was lowered to $500,000 after that.

“We always try to reach a reasonable resolution of a disputed claim,” Mullins said. “We are pleased to have been able to do so at this point.”

Beausoleil said the district has only seen her daughter as a liability.

“I want her to be seen in a different light,” Beausoleil said. “I want this kind of just to be behind me and to keep moving forward to continue to create change. We’re going to constantly fight, there’s no stopping it.”

While she’s lost a lot of hope in the past four years, she said she plans to keep fighting for her children. She filed the lawsuit so she could see change in the district, so no one would have to feel the pain she and the other families felt.

“Our lawsuits were to create change, it wasn’t to create this sue happy, ‘oh need a bunch of money’ idea,” Beausoleil said. “We want systematic change. We want this change because there was neglect on all aspects.”

Madisyn’s younger sister Payton is starting her freshman year this fall, Beausoleil said. She’s going to Anchor Bay schools, and Beausoleil said she has gone through safety directives with the district. It’s heartening to see they’ve taken her suggestions to improve student safety, she said.

But still, the thought of Payton going to high school has taken a toll on Beausoleil, she said. The money will help to make sure Payton can go to college at an Ivy League if she wants to and to help her autistic brother.

Madisyn would’ve wanted that, Beausoleil said. She had planned to go into neuroscience to learn about autism and how the brain functioned.

“It’s not a lot of money, I’m not expecting the kids to live off of this,” Beausoleil said. “But it’s a start in the right direction of where it should’ve started in November 2021.”

By Charles Ramirez, MediaNews Group

A Clarkston man accused of leaving a sexually explicit note for a minor on a car in March has pleaded to charges, officials said.

Thomas Mellick Hensler, 38, entered a plea of no contest on Wednesday in Oakland County Circuit Court to accosting a minor, using a computer to commit a crime, and possession of methamphetamine, according to court records and the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

Hensler is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5 in the circuit court. The defendant will be sentenced as a habitual offender, serve time in prison and register as a sex offender, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement Thursday.

In Michigan, courts treat no-contest pleas the same as guilty ones.

Hensler faces up to 10 years in prison for accosting a minor, up to 20 years for using a computer to commit a crime, and up to 10 years for drug possession.

Prosecutors initially charged Hensler with child sexually abusive activity, as well as using a computer to commit a crime and drug possession.

“The teenage victim was spending an afternoon shopping when her personal space and sense of safety were violated by Thomas Hensler’s criminal harassment,” McDonald said in a statement Thursday. “This outcome holds Henlser accountable and protects the victim from the stress of testifying in court.”

Hensler’s attorney, Patrick Gagniuk, was not immediately available for comment on Friday.

Authorities alleged the defendant left a note on a 17-year-old girl’s car at a Target store on Brown Road near Joslyn Road and Interstate 75 in Auburn Hills on March 18. They said he offered in the note to pay her for sexual favors and left a phone number.

Police texted the number and found the phone’s owner in the same parking lot, officials said. They searched the man’s vehicle and found drugs and sex toys in it, according to investigators.

Officers arrested Hensler and he was arraigned on charges the next day.

At the time, McDonald said Auburn Hills Police received multiple reports from parents about their children finding similar notes on their cars with the same phone number.

Hensler is the latest defendant to be accused of accosting a minor in Michigan.

Last week, a Trenton man was charged with accosting a child for immoral purposes and another crime after he allegedly tried to meet someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl but was an undercover police officer.

The same week, a former Michigan man was ordered to stand trial on two counts of accosting a child and four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly sexually assaulting a child in Hillsdale County in 2008.

Last month, another former Michigan man was found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, accosting a child and several other charges.

A Clarkston man has opted out of trial on felony charges in connection with an offer to pay a teen girl for sex.

At a hearing Aug. 20 before Oakland County Circuit Judge Michael Warren, Thomas Mellick Hensler, 38, pleaded no contest to accosting/enticing a minor for immoral purposes, using a computer to commit a crime, and possession of methamphetamine. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. It can also offer some liability protection in civil cases.

Hensler reportedly left an explicit note with a sex offer on a 17-year-old girl’s car parked outside the Target store in Auburn Hills on March 18. The girl reported the incident to police, who then texted the number on the note and reportedly tracked it to Hensler — parked nearby in a car.

Methamphetamine and sex toys were found in Hensler’s car, officials said.

Hensler, a habitual offender with multiple convictions for possession of illegal drugs, made a plea deal with prosecutors that has him serving time in prison. He will be listed on the state’s Sex Offender Registry for life.

Clinton Township police say a drone proved to be an “invaluable tool” in helping officers arrest an accused armed arsonist earlier this week.

Officers Thursday released some of the drone’s video footage shot from above the suspect’s car, which showed he was in the vehicle before police swooped in to arrest the surprised defendant.

“The drone was an invaluable tool during this incident,” police said in a statement.

Cody Krantz, 23, of Clinton Township, was arraigned Tuesday, Aug. 19 in 41B District Court after he was charged with first-degree arson, home invasion, and malicious destruction of property.

Magistrate Ryan Zemke set bond at $500,000, court records show. Krantz is being held at the Macomb County Jail.

According to police, the incident happened shortly after midnight on Aug. 18 when officers responded to a call of an armed man setting objects on fire in an apartment complex near Joy Boulevard and Gratiot Avenue.

Police said during the investigation, an officer noticed the suspect’s vehicle was still in the parking lot.

That’s when officers deployed one the department drones. The drone pilot positioned the device one in front of the vehicle in order to see see potential occupants.

Officers observed the suspect sitting inside the vehicle “via the off-site in-car viewing monitor.”

With the drone still hovering over the vehicle, officers converged on the suspect and were able to make the arrest without resistance.

Investigators later determined multiple objects inside the apartment had been set on fire, including a portion of the structure itself.

Authorities also recovered a pistol from the car.

If convicted of the most serious charge, the arson allegation, Krantz could face up to life in prison.

The department again thanked the community for providing officers with funding for up-to-date training and equipment.

Earlier this month, voters approved a 10-year millage renewal on a 62.7% to 373% tally, according to the Clinton Township Clerk’s Office. Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem said the renewal is expected to generate $9.6 million a year, or about one-third of the total police budget.

“With the continued millage support from our township residents, your officers have the proper tools and training to safely apprehend these dangerous and violent suspects,” the department said Thursday.

By Kara Berg, The Detroit News

The families of slain Oxford High School students Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling have settled with the Oxford Community School District, former counselor Shawn Hopkins and former dean of students Nick Ejak for $500,000, despite an appeals court ruling that the district was protected by qualified immunity.

The district offered the $500,000 settlement to each of the four families whose children were killed in the November 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School, said Madisyn’s family’s attorney Wolfgang Mueller. Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Shilling, 17; and Tate Myre, 16, were killed by a 15-year-old student at the school.

The panel of three judges from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded Hopkins and Ejak did not display callous indifference toward the risk they perceived the shooter posed prior to the Nov. 30, 2021, attack and that Oxford schools had immunity and could not be sued. The wrongful death lawsuit was dismissed May 20.

“You had to look at the writing on the wall,” Mueller said. “Just knowing the way the panel had addressed the lawyers’ oral arguments in the Sixth Circuit, I knew it was going to happen. … It’s clearly not anywhere near adequate to make up for the harm, but the reality was, the cases were going to be dismissed.”

Oxford Schools attorney Tim Mullins said the offer to the families before the 6th Circuit decision was $1 million, and it was lowered to $500,000 after that.

“We always try to reach a reasonable resolution of a disputed claim,” Mullins said. “We are pleased to have been able to do so at this point.”

Mullins said Tate and Hana’s families rejected both offers and the ball is now in their court. Their lawsuits have been dismissed, but he said he’ll “never say never” to the possibility of an out-of-court settlement.

Madisyn’s family filed a motion Thursday to approve the settlement and allow the distribution of the money. A similar motion has not yet been approved in Justin’s family’s case.

Attorney Chris Desmond, who along with Ven Johnson represents the families of Tate and Justin in their lawsuit against the district, said Tate’s family declined the settlement but Justin’s family accepted it.

Steve St. Juliana, the father of victim Hana St. Juliana, told the Oxford Community Schools Board of Education to “shove” their $500,000 offer during a June board meeting. He said he was given less than 20 hours to consider the offer.

“That’s how little that you value our children,” St. Juliana told board members. “I don’t even know what to say. I mean, how can you not be embarrassed and ashamed? Not only of the offer, which is insulting, at the very least, but the manner in which it’s delivered.

“Well, I’ll deliver my answer right here. I am not going to stop striving for the changes necessary to save our kids,” he added. “So you can shove your offer.”

Lawsuits filed by victims and their families have alleged that the district failed to protect students and downplayed the threat the killer posed to the school. The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December 2023, though he is appealing both the sentence and his guilty plea to the Michigan Supreme Court.

His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were both convicted of four counts each of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the four students their son killed. Both were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison and are appealing their convictions.

The families of seven students who filed the civil cases reached the effective end of their appeal attempts in May after the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear arguments in the case against Oxford Community Schools. A federal judge ruled in May that those cases also cannot proceed.

Michigan’s Court of Appeals ruled last month that Steve St. Juliana can sue Michigan State Police over his allegations that they should have done more to intervene and prevent the shooting.

Mueller said “everyone is disappointed in the amount” offered in the settlement.

“They’re more disappointed that the school district has never, ever accepted any responsibility for this,” Mueller said. “They’ve hidden behind qualified immunity, which is what got the case dismissed. They’re not happy in any respect.”

A man who reportedly attacked staff at a Planet Fitness in West Bloomfield on Wednesday morning, attempted to run over a police officer who responded to the scene, crashed into several patrol cars and then led police on a high-speed chase was eventually taken into custody, officials said.

The police officer and suspect appeared to have suffered minor injuries during the incident and were transported to an area hospital, officials said.

According to the West Bloomfield Township Police Department, detectives continue to investigate the alleged rampage which reportedly unfolded at around 9:30 a.m. when a 911 call reported a man was punching staff at the fitness facility, located at 6433 Orchard Lake Rd. While officers were enroute, they learned the man was charging at staff with a metal object, then exited the facility and got into a vehicle in the parking lot, where he was met by officers including one on foot who the man allegedly tried to run over.

The man then drove away — striking several police vehicles — leading officers on a high-speed pursuit which continued on a main roadway and into a residential subdivision, police said. After crashing into more patrol cars, the man’s vehicle was forced to a stop by officers and he was arrested, police said.

The Oakland Press reached out to the West Bloomfield Police Department for information on the suspect’s age and hometown, but neither are being released yet.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has more information on it is asked to contact Detective Michael Kozemchak of the West Bloomfield Police Department at 248-975-8999.

A Royal Oak man accused of fatally shooting a maintenance worker at the Devon Park apartment complex will be evaluated for competency, a judge has ruled.

Nathaniel Rockwell, 32, was referred for the psychiatric evaluation during a recent court hearing before 44th District Judge Derek Meinecke. Rockwell is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of felonious assault and three counts of felony firearm in connection with the July 31 death of Gregory Hill of Southfield.

According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, prior to the shooting, Rockwell — a tenant at the complex — had received an eviction notice due to multiple incidents with firearms. He allegedly confronted building management and another tenant who had reported him, got into an argument and then retrieved a gun from his vehicle and began firing at Hill. Hill was shot approximately 11 times at close range, the prosecutor’s office said.

Hill was working at the time of the shooting, the prosecutor’s office said.

Rockwell is held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond. The judge set an Oct. 17 hearing to review results of the competency evaluation.

A Detroit man has admitted to being part of a criminal enterprise in connection with a southeastern Michigan auto theft ring that targeted storage lots, car dealerships and residences.

Jordan Tyler Gray, 23, entered a guilty plea Wednesday in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens for his actions from April 2024 to April 2025 in Warren, according to court records.

Judge Anthony Servitto is scheduled to sentence him Sept. 24.

The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Gray’s attorney, Randy Rodnick, reached a sentencing agreement with Servitto for him to be sentenced to five years in prison, when Gray first will be eligible for parole, which is under the sentencing guideline range of six to 10 years.

Under the agreement, the sentence will be served simultaneously with any other sentence he might receive in other jurisdictions, records say.

Investigators from the Troy police Special Investigations Unit said they acted in partnership with the Macomb Auto Theft Squad in connecting Gray and two co-defendants to dozens of motor vehicle thefts, with larcenies occurring from the west side of Michigan east, extending as far as Massachusetts. Investigators said they utilized social media evidence, phone tracking and mapping, and surveillance of Gray to establish his involvement.

A search warrant executed at Gray’s residence on the day of his April 15 arrest yielded evidence such as numerous key fobs, a “significant amount” of cash, and a stolen Glock switch, officials said.

He is being held in the Macomb County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.

The criminal-enterprise charge against one of his co-defendants, a 22-year-old man, was dismissed last May by Judge Michael Chupa of 37th District Court in Warren, according to court records.

The case of a third defendant in the case could not be located in district and circuit court records.

MATS is composed of investigators from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office and officers from Center Line, Clinton Township, Roseville and Sterling Heights. The Troy Special Investigations Unit is composed of officers from the Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Royal and Troy police departments. Both units work with officers from other agencies.

Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Jeff Hall is chief of the Auto Theft Unit at the county Prosecutor’s Office.