By JAIMIE DING, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A fast-growing brush fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles.

The Canyon Fire ignited Thursday afternoon and grew to more than 7.6 square miles by 11 p.m., according to the Ventura County Fire Department. At least 400 personnel were battling the blaze along with several planes and helicopters. It remained uncontained late Thursday and was spreading east into Los Angeles County, officials said.

The fire is burning just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir located in the Los Padres National Forest. It’s close by Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area burned by the Hughes Fire in January. That fire burned about 15 square miles in six hours and put 50,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings.

Sunny, hot and dry conditions were expected in the area where the Canyon Fire was burning on Friday, with the daytime high near 100 degrees Fahrenheit  and minimum humidity in the mid-teens, according to the National Weather Service. Winds were expected to be light in the morning and grow from the south to southwest in the afternoon.

In LA County, around 2,700 residents evacuated with 700 structures under an evacuation order, officials said late Thursday. Another 14,000 residents and 5,000 structures were covered by an evacuation warning. Areas within the Val Verde zone had been reduced from an order to a warning.

The evacuation zones in nearby Ventura County were relatively unpopulated, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd said Thursday. Fifty-six people were evacuated from the Lake Piru recreation area.

Dowd called the blaze a “very dynamic situation” caused by hot, dry weather, steep and rugged terrain and dry fuel.

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the district, urged residents to evacuate.

“Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,” Barger said in a statement. “If first responders tell you to leave, go—without hesitation.”

The new blaze comes as a massive wildfire in Central California became the state’s largest blaze of the year, threatening hundreds of homes and burning out of control in the Los Padres National Forest.

The Gifford Fire had spread to 155 square miles by Thursday night with 15% containment. It grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted Aug. 1 along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people. It has injured at least four people. The causes of the fires are under investigation.

Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as a heat wave gripping the area intensifies. August and September are typically the most dangerous months for wildfires in the state.

ATLANTA (AP) — Two Atlanta transit police officers were shot after they tried to confront a man urinating in a train station, investigators say.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police Chief M. Scott Kreher tells local news outlets that officials are looking for the man, who got away after shooting at the officers as they tried to arrest him late Thursday.

The shooting happened just before midnight at MARTA’s Five Points station, the downtown transfer point for the system’s trains.

Kreher told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the man became irate and refused to cooperate when officers approached him. Officers decided to arrest the man, but Kreher said he pulled out a handgun and shot over his shoulder at the officer. He grazed a female officer in the knee and struck a male officer in the arm.

The female officer has been released from the hospital but is also reporting hearing loss because she was so close when the gun was fired. Kreher said she is expected to fully recover. The male officer was undergoing surgery Friday for his arm injury.

Cameras show the man then got on a train and rode two stops south, throwing his gun on the roof of the West End station. Police haven’t publicly identified the man but say they know who he is and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force is looking for him.

The gun has been recovered.

The Five Points station reopened when trains started running Friday morning.

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The case against a Detroiter accused of fatally stabbing a man who was reportedly his friend has been bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

At the conclusion of a preliminary exam Tuesday in 46th District Court, Judge Cynthia Arvant ruled there was probable cause to advance the case against Gregory Clark, 66.

Clark is charged with second-degree homicide for the death of 64-year-old Eddie Fisher Clora, who was stabbed in the chest on April 12 in Southfield. Clark had been charged with manslaughter, but the prosecution subsequently amended the charge.

Clora was fatally stabbed during a fight with Clark outside a BP gas station at Eight Mile and Lahser roads, police said. He died at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital.Clora’s family identified Clark as the assailant based on video evidence, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office — and described the two men as friends. Clark turned himself in four days after the stabbing, the prosecutor’s office said.

Clark is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 6 before Oakland County Circuit Judge Nanci Grant. If convicted, he could face life in prison. For now, he’s in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $500,000, requiring him to post 10% to be released.

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Rochester police will soon have new cameras for officers and road patrol vehicles.

The city council unanimously approved a five-year, $345,363 contract with Axon Enterprises based in Scottsdale, AZ, for 20 bodycams and 10 in-car cameras, all of which have livestreaming capabilities.

Police Chief George Rouhib said the department has been using Watchguard bodycams but Axon’s cameras had advanced features.

In addition to better-quality images, the cameras include license-plate readers, an AI assistant, and redaction software. The contract includes a supplemental language translator which helps with up to 50 languages, he said.

More than three dozen languages are spoken by Oakland County’s residents who speak English as a second language, according to the U.S. Census.

“When the individual speaks into the camera, the software will identify the language and translate it into English and vice versa,” he said. “The software will also store our department policies, allowing officers to access critical information easily while in the field, ensuring compliance and informed decision making.”

He said the current cameras are out of warranty and cannot be repaired. The new equipment, he said, will be good for an estimated five years.

The in-cruiser cameras can also read license plates and alert officers to stolen cars.

All road patrol vehicles will have cameras, he said.

The city adopted bodycams in 2021 as a way to improve evidence collection and document police officers’ actions.

A 70-year-old man accused of sexually abusing two children in his family has opted out of trial with a plea in Oakland County Circuit Court.

At a pretrial hearing July 28, Southfield resident Lawrence Edward Miles pleaded no contest three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly assaulting a boy and girl — both under 10 years old. According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, the charges stem from a series of assaults that occurred in 2024 and 2025.

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.

Miles is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16 by Judge Daniel O’Brien. He faces up to life in prison for first-degree CSC, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years behind bars. Second-degree criminal sexual conduct carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Both convictions require lifetime electronic monitoring upon parole and AIDS/STD testing.

Miles is in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond.

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A third person has been charged in connection with a string of purse-snatchings in Oakland County which also allegedly involves sibling co-defendants.

Snyomee Stanley, 21, of Taylor is facing felony charges of unarmed robbery and stealing/retaining a financial transaction device, along with third-degree retail fraud — a misdemeanor — for a crime reported outside the Marshall’s store in White Lake Township on July 9. An Oakland County special operations unit and Taylor police arrested her on July 24 and she was subsequently arraigned in 52-2 District Court in Clarkston.

Bond was set at $10,000 cash with a 10% provision, which allowed her to be released from jail after posting $1,000. She did that on July 28.

An ongoing investigation into multiple purse-snatching incidents in Oakland County tied Stanley to the White Lake crime. A brother-sister duo from Pontiac, Phylasia Rufus, 21, and Cartier Rufus, 20, are facing charges for similar incidents in retail parking lots in Auburn Hills and Commerce Township, and Cartier Rufus is facing charges for the White Lake Township incident along with Stanley. Stanley’s arrest information has been shared with law enforcement in Auburn Hills and Commerce townships, according to officials.

According to police, force was used to steal purses from female victims in at least two of the crimes, causing minor injuries.

Cartier Rufus was on parole for a similar offense at the time of his arrest, police said.

The Rufuses remain in custody at the Oakland County Jail.

Phylasia Rufus’ cases were recently advanced to Oakland County Circuit Court after she waived her right to preliminary exams in district court. Cartier Rufus’ next court appearance is scheduled for July 31. Stanley’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 7.

By Max Reinhart, The Detroit News

A 31-year-old man is in jail after his girlfriend told police he kidnapped her, hit her with a liquor bottle and threw her down a set of stairs.

Michigan State Police said the woman fled the man’s home and sought help at a nearby residence when he fell asleep.

At about 1:05 a.m. Friday, dispatchers received a report that a woman with “obvious injuries” was sitting on the porch of a home on Ithaca Avenue in Royal Oak Township, according to an MSP social media post.

Authorities said troopers arrived and found the woman with two black eyes and bruises and cuts on her body. She told police that her boyfriend had held her against her will at his home on Cloverdale Avenue for the last three days.

There, he allegedly took her cell phone so she couldn’t call for help, strangled her, struck her with a liquor bottle and threw her down the stairs when she attempted to leave. The woman told police she was able to escape when he fell asleep.

She was transported to a nearby hospital while troopers responded to the suspect’s home, according to the MSP post.

He initially refused to exit the house. Troopers first removed the man’s father and the suspect later complied with orders and was taken to the Oakland County Jail.

The suspect has not yet been identified by name. The case is under review by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, MSP said.

A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for an update on the case.

One of the three Lorain Police Department officers attacked in an ambush while having lunch has died.

“The Lorain Police Department is heartbroken to announce the line-of-duty death of Officer Phillip C. Wagner, who passed away surrounded by his family at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025,” according to a news release from the Lorain Police Department.

Wagner, 35, joined the Lorain Police Department in February 2022.

Prior to his service with Lorain police, he served with the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the Sheffield Village Police Department.

From the very beginning of his career, Wagner was a respected and beloved member of our law enforcement family, the release said.

Known for his dedication, professionalism, and compassion, he exemplified the very best of what it means to serve and protect, the release said.

Wagner proudly served seven years in law enforcement, the release said.

Just two days before this tragic shooting, he achieved a significant milestone — earning his SWAT pin after a year of dedicated training and hard work, according to the release.

Despite the efforts of fellow officers, first responders and medical professionals, Wagner died of his injuries.

“Officer Wagner’s life and service to our city will never be forgotten,” said Lorain acting police Chief Mike Failing said in the release. “On behalf of the Wagner family, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has reached out in support.

“Our department mourns the loss of a true hero and stands in unwavering support of Officer Wagner’s family, friends, and fellow officers during this heartbreaking time. We ask the community to keep his loved ones in their thoughts and prayers as we come together to honor his memory, service, and ultimate sacrifice.”

Information regarding funeral arrangements and opportunities for public remembrance will be shared in coming days, the release said.

The shooter

Authorities have released the identity of the man they say shot three Lorain Police Department officers who were having lunch July 23.

As Lorain police officers arrived on the scene of the ambush that left two officers critically injured and one with a serious injury, they were met with significant gunfire from Michael Parker, 28, of Lorain, according to a news release from the Elyria Police Department, which is investigating the incident.

Officers returned fire during the exchange, which resulted in Parker suffering a fatal injury.

“This incident has deeply impacted all of us in law enforcement,” said Elyria Police Department Chief James Welsh. “Our hearts are with the officers who were injured, their families, and the entire Lorain Police Department during this incredibly difficult time.

“We want to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the agencies that responded swiftly and selflessly during this critical incident. The coordinated efforts of our regional law enforcement partners — including tactical teams, bomb technicians, patrol units and investigators — were instrumental in ensuring public safety, securing the scene and advancing this complex investigation.

“In moments of crisis, it’s the strength of our partnerships that carries us through.”

The shooting

The incident began at 1:04 p.m., when Lorain Police Department officers responded to a radio broadcast of shots fired by an on-duty officer in the area of River Bend Drive, according to a news release from Elyria police Capt. Bill Lantz.

Two of the Lorain police officers who were struck by gunfire by Parker were parked in their patrol cruisers eating lunch when they were attacked, the release said.

A third officer responded and was shot in the hand.

He’s since been treated and released.

The injured officers were transported to area hospitals.

Lorain police requested mutual aid prompting numerous law enforcement agencies, including tactical teams, responded and conducted a coordinated search of surrounding areas to confirm there was no ongoing threat to public safety.

Once the scene was secured, the Elyria Police Department Investigative Unit, with assistance from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, initiated an investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

Preliminary findings indicate that Parker had parked his vehicle near the dead end of River Bend Drive.

Located inside and around the vehicle were multiple high-powered rifles, handguns and a substantial quantity of loaded magazines, according to the release.

While securing the vehicle, law enforcement personnel saw suspicious baggage, raising concerns about possible explosive devices, the release said.

The Lorain County Bomb Squad was contacted.

Upon further inspection, bomb technicians discovered a significant quantity of improvised explosive materials within the vehicle, the release said.

The materials were safely removed and disposed of through a controlled detonation away from the crime scene.

Following this, BCI investigators began processing the scene and collecting evidence.

Initial analysis indicated that Parker fired a significant number of rounds during the course of the encounter.

Later that evening, investigators obtained a search warrant for Parker’s residence in the 1500 block of North Lakeview Boulevard in Lorain.

At 6 p.m., the Lorain County S.W.A.T. Team executed the warrant and bomb technicians cleared the property, confirming no explosive threats were present.

Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact Elyria police Lt. Tom Wade at 440-326-1362 or wade@cityofelyria.org.

Investigators continue to develop evidence to determine information that may shed light on Parker’s motives for the shooting.

“The Elyria Police Department remains committed to working with our partnering agencies to ensure a complete and professional investigation,” the release said. “Updates will be provided as the case progresses.”

Community response

The mood of the city is sober and grim as news continues to trickle through the community.

A vigil took place July 23 outside City Hall following the event and another will occur again late July 24 in honor of the officers.

The organizers of the Lorain Lighthouse announced the lights will be dark blue beginning July 31 in support of the officers who were attacked.

“We are sending our thoughts, prayers and support to the 3 officers, their families and the Lorain Police Department,” the organizers stated on social media.

Meanwhile, City Hall remains closed until July 28 in light of the tragedy.

The digital sign in front of City Hall states, “In these difficult times, keep Lorain Police in your thoughts and prayers.”

Flags on City Hall property are being flown at half-staff.

“Today, our community was rocked by the tragic shooting of three officers from the Lorain Police Department,” said Lorain County Prosecutor Tony Cillo. “As a prosecutor, I work closely with law enforcement every day, and I’ve seen firsthand the courage, integrity and selflessness these individuals bring to the job.

“Their sacrifice is a stark reminder of the dangers police face in service of public safety. To every officer who puts on the uniform despite the risks: thank you. We stand with you.

“And to the families of the injured, our hearts are with you as you navigate the road ahead. We honor their service. We demand accountability. And most importantly, we commit to supporting our law enforcement partners as they heal and continue the vital mission of protecting our community.”

Lorain City Schools also issued a statement on the incident.

“We are heartbroken by the events unfolding in our city today,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with the Lorain Police Department, our first responders, and the families affected by this tragedy.

“Lorain City Schools stands in full solidarity with the city of Lorain and our partners in law enforcement. Recognizing this difficult time, all district offices and school buildings will be closed on Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25. We ask our Titan community to keep our city in your thoughts and to support one another with care and compassion in the days ahead.”

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A Chuck E. Cheese employee was arrested while wearing the mouse costume during a child’s birthday party at one of the restaurant’s locations in Florida, authorities confirmed Thursday.

Jermell Jones, 41, was cuffed and marched out of the building while wearing the Chuck E. Cheese suit in Tallahassee. The mascot misconduct happened back on July 3, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Cops said an investigation began when a woman who had recently paid for a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party noticed about $100 worth of suspicious charges on her credit card, the Democrat reported.

When officers first arrived at the scene, they identified the suspect as an employee checking stamps at the front door. However, when they returned to make an arrest, he had changed into the famous mouse costume, according to the outlet.

“Tallahassee Police Department, y’all couldn’t let this man change out of his Chuck E. Cheese costume before arresting him in front of those kids?” one man asked in a Facebook post.

Tallahassee police said they tried to make the arrest discretely, but Jones “tense[d] up and resist[ed],” forcing them to march him through the restaurant.

“It is unfortunate that the person who is subject of this investigation and who we had probable cause on happened to be in a suit and in costume,” TPD spokeswoman Alicia Hill told the Democrat.

Jones was charged with credit card fraud, theft of a credit card and identity theft, according to Orlando NBC affiliate WESH. He has since been released on bail.

The doctor who tried to save the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner from “rough” waters in Costa Rica last weekend has broken their silence.

The “Cosby Show” star, 54, died by drowning last Sunday after he and his 8-year-old daughter got caught in a riptide, the latter of whom was rescued by a bystander. His death was ruled accidental and the cause was confirmed as asphyxiation by submersion.

“There were very few people on the beach, and the sea was rough,” the vacationing doctor, who requested to remain anonymous, told Us Weekly, adding they were about 660 feet (200 meters) away at the time they heard people crying for help. “I ran to the area and entered the sea with my surfboard, heading into the rip current toward the person being pointed at by some beachgoers. After a few minutes, I saw a shadow, dove down and pulled the person out.”

He spotted another Good Samaritan, who’d tried to assist “without any rescue equipment,” lying on the shore and trying to breathe.

“Immediately, [first responders] began providing first aid to Malcolm, but he had no vital signs,” said the doctor. “Two tourists ran over to help. They identified themselves as doctors, making a total of three physicians at the scene.”

A defibrillator was among the resuscitation efforts employed to save the beloved actor, to no avail.

“The people who take part in this kind of rescue are always deeply affected,” said the doctor. “You have to understand it’s not easy, and it also takes time to heal.”

The Caribbean Guard previously confirmed that at the time of Warner’s death, no lifeguard was on duty at Playa Grande, “one of our most challenging beaches.”

“It’s a beach known by local surfers and there are signs (in English and Spanish) that warn of the danger of death by drowning,” continued the statement.

A Rochester Hills woman and her boyfriend are jailed on first-degree child abuse charges after the woman’s young daughter had her arm and leg broken, officials said.

According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Kimberly Ann McGarry, 26, was arraigned Thursday following her arrest this past Tuesday near Grand Rapids, by U.S. Marshals. Bond was set at $150,000 with a 10% provision, meaning she can be released from the Oakland County Jail if she posts $15,000. Her boyfriend, Cleyde Murillo, 29, was arrested July 11 in Muskegon County where he had gone for a supervised visit with his daughter, the sheriff’s office said. At his July 14 arraignment, bond was set at $750,000 with a 10% provision, requiring him to post $75,000 to get out of jail.

The case against the couple emerged last December when staff from Children’s Protective Services notified detectives about the child’s injuries. The girl, age 4, had been taken to the hospital where doctors determined her left leg and right arm had been broken and were in different stages of healing, the sheriff’s office said.

As stated in a news release: “McGarry said her daughter had fallen down the steps two weeks earlier. Doctors later notified child protective services as the injuries were not consistent with the mother’s statement. McGarry later gave conflicting versions to detectives about how the injuries happened. McGarry confirmed during the interview that the injury took place on Nov. 15 and neither she nor Murillo provided any medical attention for the child, potentially causing permanent injury to her.”

McGarry told doctors the child was injured at the home she shared with Murillo, on Dequindre in Rochester Hills, the sheriff’s office said.

The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office issued charges against the couple on July 10.

“There can be no excuse and no tolerance for anyone that abuses a child,” Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard stated in the news release. “It is one of the more heinous crimes we encounter, and I am anxious for these suspects to be held accountable.”

McGarry also has a 6-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old son who are now living with their biological father, the sheriff’s office said.

First-degree child abuse is punishable by up to life in prison.

Multiple criminal charges are filed against a 33-year-old Texas man accused of human trafficking, other sex crimes and more, following his recent arrest in Southfield.

According to Southfield police, the case against Randolph Lewis unfolded on July 21 when officers responded to the Quality Inn at 26111 Telegraph Road for a malicious destruction of property complaint. The female victim reported that a man she described as her boyfriend had broken her car windshield, police said. An investigation revealed the woman may be a victim of human trafficking; she reportedly told police she had met Lewis in Louisiana and he had introduced her to sex dates — listing her online for commercial sex services and collecting her earnings after the encounters, police said.

The woman also told officers that Lewis had sexually assaulted, police said.

Lewis, who had fled from the Quality Inn before police arrived, was located in a nearby hotel and arrested. Another possible human trafficking victim was with Lewis, but she refused assistance from officers, police said.

The investigation also revealed that Lewis has operated in several cities, police said.

The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Lewis with human trafficking enterprise resulting in injury/commercial sexual activity, prostitution, using computers to commit a crime, and two counts of criminal sexual conduct – assault with intent to commit sexual penetration.

Lewis is in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $300,000. If he posts bond, he’ll be required to wear a GPS tether while the case is adjudicated.

Lewis, of Arlington, Texas, also has charges pending in Lousiana, police said.

Lewis’ next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 4 for a probable cause conference before 48th District Judge Debra Nance.

A Pontiac man accused of shooting two men last year, killing one of them, has a new trial date.

Jury selection is set to begin Oct. 21 in Oakland County Circuit Court for the case against Jermaine Lee Jackson, 27, charged in the homicide of Json Markell Hunt, 27, of Clinton Township. Jackson faces charges of open murder, assault with intent to murder and felon in possession of a firearm, and three counts of felony firearm.

The shooting happened at a business in the 400 block of West Huron Street in Pontiac on Jan. 14, 2024, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office.

The other man who was shot was reportedly Hunt’s cousin.

Jackson had been scheduled for trial earlier this year, but that was subsequently adjourned.

Jackson is held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond.

Another man connected to the case, Ja-Vontay Boykin, is charged with two counts of accessory after the fact. He had also been charged with lying to police, but that was dismissed. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 28.

Judge Daniel O’Brien is presiding over both cases.

A 40-year-old man who reportedly hit the median on I-75 in Troy and continued along the roadway with a flat tire — with his child in the car — is facing several criminal charges including operating while intoxicated-third offense, officials said.

Troy police said officers were contacted about a possible drunk driver shortly before 10 p.m. on July 13, with witnesses reporting the vehicle had hit the freeway’s wall, had a flat tire and was still being driven. Police found the vehicle, a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, on the shoulder of the off-ramp to Crooks Road, and reportedly saw the driver and his 12-year-old daughter walking away.

Officers spoke with the driver and suspected he was intoxicated due to his speech, inability to stand up straight and bloodshot eyes, police said. They also determined he had a felony warrant for his arrest and didn’t have a valid driver’s license.

The man refused to perform field sobriety tests and — after being arrested and transported to the Troy police lock-up facility — refused a blood draw, police said. A search warrant was obtained for the blood draw.

Along with OWI-third offense, the man is charged with driving while license is suspended/revoked/denied, failure to stop at the scene of a property damaged accident, and reckless driving.

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A 78-year-old Troy man was recently scammed out of nearly $50,000 — and the fraudster then attempted to get another $42,000 from him, police said.

According to the Troy Police Department, the man reported he received an email from someone he thought was Norton — an anti-virus/identity protection service — telling him he owed a $400 renewal payment. The man gave remote access to his computer and cell phone, then was told $40,000 had been deposited into his account instead of $400, and he had to repay $49,500 in cash. A courier came to his home and the man turned the cash over to him, police said.

The next day, the victim was again contacted and told an additional $42,300 had been placed in his account in error, and he had to send back $42,000. At that point, police said, the man realized he’d been scammed and contacted authorities.

Police have repeatedly warned residents to be aware of scams and to check with their financial institutions when unconfirmed sources ask them to transfer funds. As previously reported, police say it’s unlikely such scammers will be caught and prosecuted.

An Oakland County road commission worker was killed and two others seriously injured after a vehicle crashed into their worksite Wednesday morning.

The workers were near the median in the northbound lanes of Orchard Lake Road near Misty Pines Drive when a southbound driver in a silver Ford Escape crossed the median and hit them. One worker died at the scene and the others were hospitalized.

“They were out doing basin repair work on Orchard Lake Road between 10 and 11 Mile roads,” said Craig Bryson, road commission spokesman.

The names and ages of the workers are not being released, to give families time to inform relatives, according to Farmington Hills police.

Police said the driver of the Escape was also hospitalized.

The workers had proper safety equipment and signals north and south of their location, but the Escape came from the west side of the work site, police said.

The crash remains under investigation.

Bryson said the crash is devastating to the agency, which has just over 450 employees and is a tightly knit group.

“Our biggest concern is supporting the families of these three employees,” he said.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased,” said Farmington Hills Police Chief John Piggott. “We also extend our thoughts and prayers to the injured crew members and their families as they continue to receive medical attention, along with the entire Road Commission for Oakland County family affected by this tragic incident.”

Dennis Kolar, the road commission’s managing director said Wednesday was a heartbreaking day for the entire road commission family.

“We are extremely saddened by the loss of one of our family members, and the injury of two others,” he said.

Mental-health professionals will be at the road commission offices Thursday for any employees struggling with this situation.

“This devastating event is a stark reminder of the importance of work zone safety,” Kolar said, adding that despite road workers taking every safety precaution there are still risks daily on the job.

Kolar also thanked the Farmington Hills police for their quick response and professional assistance at the accident scene.

Police encouraged drivers to be extra careful when traveling around road crews.

Anyone with information related to this traffic crash is asked to contact the Farmington Hills Police command desk at (248) 871-2610.

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A St. Clair County man was arraigned on homicide charges Tuesday afternoon in connection with the death of a Madison Heights woman whose body was discovered in a Shelby Township apartment.

Terrance Lamar Bowie, 29, of Casco Township, was charged in 41-A District Court in Shelby Township with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence at the scene related to the death of a woman identified by Prosecutor Peter Lucido as Brittany Harris-Beauchamp, a 27-year-old Madison Heights woman. The murder charge is punishable by up to life in prison while the tampering charges carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Judge Stephen Sierawski set bond at $2 million cash after Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Sian Hengeveld sought to hold Bowie without bond based on the severity of the charges and because, “This case appears to be both a violent and unprovoked one (attack).”

Lexus Real, Bowie’s attorney for the arraignment, requested “a reasonable bond,” indicating that while he has resided in Casco the past “couple of months,” he had been living with and taking care of his grandmother in Shelby Township.

Bowie told Real he has no pending criminal charges and only minor past skirmishes with the law, she said.

Sierawski said Bowie would be appointed an attorney through the county Public Defender’s Office.

Bowie, Hengeveld, Real and a township police detective attended the court hearing appeared remotely by video.

According to Shelby Township police, officers received a 911 call about 6:45 a.m. July 19 from an apartment on the 46000 block of Boardman Drive. A man requested help on a 911 call and then hung up.

Officers arrived at the apartment to check the welfare of the occupants and were met at the door by Bowie, according to a news release.

“Bowie made statements to officers indicating that there was a dead body located inside of the apartment,” investigators said in the release.

Police located a deceased 27-year-old female in a bedroom. Evidence taken from the scene indicates the cause of death as a homicide.

Bowie was placed under arrest at the scene, police said.

“This was not a random act of violence, as the victim and Bowie were both known to each other,” police said.

Authorities did not state in the releases how she was killed.

Bowie, who is being held in the Macomb County Jail, faces an Aug. 5 probable-cause conference and an Aug. 12 preliminary examination in 41A.

“Think twice before committing a crime in Shelby Township. Our team is committed to the safety and security of our residents and business owners,” Police Chief Robert Shelide said in the release. “However, if you commit a violent crime in Shelby Township, we will leave no stone unturned and pursue you until you are brought to justice.”

— Staff writer Jameson Cook contributed to this report.

Shelby Township police investigating homicide at Lakeside Park Apartments

Boater’s body found behind Harrison Twp. marina

Family and friends of an Oakland County restaurant food server are mourning his loss after he was killed over the weekend as a result of high-speed police chase that ended in Warren.

Relatives identified the victim as Alex Habib, 28, a married father of two from Madison Heights, who died early Saturday in a car crash involving a Roseville police officer.

Warren police Lt. John Grajewski on Sunday confirmed the fatality, which remains under investigation.

According to Warren police, Roseville police initiated a vehicle pursuit around 3 a.m. Saturday that ended in a multi-car crash in the Van Dyke Avenue/11 Mile Road area.

Further details were not immediately available.

Roseville police administrators did not respond Sunday morning to a request for comment.

Habib apparently was an innocent bystander who was struck by one of the vehicles involved in the pursuit, according to friends.

He was married to Danielle and the two have two young children, 1-year-old Eleanora and Santiago, who is 3 months old.

“His life revolved around his family — he was their strength, their protector, and their constant source of support,” relatives said in a GoFundMe request.

“Alex worked tirelessly to provide for Danielle and the kids, both emotionally and financially. He was a man of deep love, quiet strength, and unwavering dedication — someone who gave selflessly and always showed up for the people he loved. His loss is felt not just by his wife and children, but by all who knew him.”

Habib worked as a server at Jim Brady’s restaurant on Main Street in Royal Oak.

According to a social media message posted by management, the Jim Brady’s team of workers is “heartbroken” over his passing.

“We have lost a beloved member of our team,” the Facebook post said. “Alex Habib, who was loved by all those who came into contact with him, has been taken from all of those close to him far too early…The family appreciates any and all that we can do for them. Thank you from the bottom of our heart.”

As of Sunday afternoon, the GoFundMe effort has raised in excess of $55,000.

To make a donation, visit gofundme.com/f/support-for-alex-habibs-loved-ones

Come back to Macombdaily.com for further updates as they become available.

When a Venezuelan immigrant was arrested last year and charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Jefferson County, the teen’s mother hoped for justice.

J.E., who is being identified by her initials to protect her daughter’s identity, wanted the suspect to be convicted, locked away. She wanted to know he couldn’t hurt anyone else, at least for a while.

But that’s not what happened.

Jesus Alberto Pereira Castillo, 21, posted $5,000 bail and was released from the Jefferson County jail on Nov. 27, 2024, court records show. He was subsequently arrested by federal immigration authorities and was deported from the country by May.

“Clerk notified via email that deft” — the defendant — “has been removed from the country,” Chief Judge Jeffrey Pilkington wrote in a May 19 order.

The deportation effectively ended the state’s criminal case against Castillo — the prosecution cannot continue without his presence in court, though he remains wanted on a warrant and could be prosecuted if he were to return to Colorado.

There was no conviction, no sentence, no jail time — just a deportation.

“It’s been pretty hard on me and my daughter,” J.E. said. “She doesn’t feel like she is getting the justice she deserves. It just has been so easy for immigrants to come into the country after they are deported. So the fear is that he might relocate somewhere else in the U.S. and do this to someone else. Them deporting him ruined justice for my daughter.”

At least two dozen defendants and one witness in criminal cases in metro Denver have been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and deported in the middle of ongoing state prosecutions since September, The Denver Post found. District attorneys across the region started to notice more defendants disappearing into ICE custody this spring, as President Donald Trump ramped up deportations nationwide.

Colorado district attorneys who spoke with The Post said such deportations are not in the interest of justice and do not improve public safety over the long term.

“If I can’t hold someone accountable because the defendant is deported before we’ve reached a just outcome in the case, and the defendant finds their way back here and commits another crime, that does not make the community safer,” 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason said. “If victims of crime are afraid to call the police after they have been sexually assaulted or some other terrible crime because they are worried about being deported, that makes our community less safe.”

The defendants deported were charged with crimes that included driving under the influence, car theft, drug distribution, assault, domestic violence, attempted murder and human trafficking.

Again and again, court records reviewed by The Post showed criminal cases stalled by deportations.

“Def does not appear as he was deported and is no longer in the U.S.,” a document notes in the file for a  26-year-old man from Brazil who was accused of swinging a knife at his wife.

“Deft no longer in the country. Defendant (failed to appear),” a record states in the file for a 32-year-old man from Mexico charged with driving a stolen car.

‘Full force of the law’

Detectives with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and the Denver Police Department spent six months building a case against a 28-year-old man from El Salvador who they alleged sold drugs and was connected to a woman who fatally overdosed at an Arapahoe County apartment complex in October.

The investigation included a drug deal with an undercover Denver detective and ongoing surveillance. The man was charged with four felony counts related to drug dealing and two counts of child abuse after the six-month investigation culminated in his arrest on April 9.

The man’s arrest affidavit notes that he was arrested by the Aurora Police Department’s SWAT team, and then, without further explanation, says he was taken into custody by ICE.

Aurora police spokesman Joe Moylan said the city’s SWAT team assisted in the arrest and then turned the man over to the sheriff’s office while at the scene. Anders Nelson, a spokesman for the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, said the agency “partners with ICE” when pursuing cases against suspected non-citizen drug dealers.

“ICE uses various means to positively identify these individuals, and so when they are arrested, ICE agents respond to identify the individual so that we can charge them accordingly under their correct name,” Nelson said. “In this case, the subject had a lengthy criminal history that included active warrants for his arrest and had entered the U.S. illegally on several occasions, and so ICE agents took custody of him.”

The suspect accused of selling drugs was deported within a month. The state criminal case remains open.

“Deft has been deported,” the man’s court records noted on May 9.

In an emailed statement, Denver ICE spokesman Steve Kotecki said the federal agency “arrests aliens who threaten public safety and commit crimes.”

Before their recent arrests and deportations, the two men from El Salvador and Brazil had previously been cited only for traffic violations in Colorado, according to records kept by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. The man from Mexico had prior convictions for car theft and drug possession.

“ICE recognizes the importance of addressing unlawful actions with the full force of the law, ensuring that individuals are held accountable for their actions,” Kotecki said in the statement. “We are committed to creating safe and thriving communities by supporting effective and fair law enforcement practices.”

Tristan Gorman, a criminal defense attorney, noted that ICE’s mid-case deportations, which come before a defendant is convicted of a crime, are “completely disregarding the constitutional presumption of innocence.”

Mason, who serves as DA for Adams and Broomfield counties, said federal agencies “are under enormous pressure to implement the policies of the current administration.”

“This is new,” he said of the growing number of mid-case deportations.

Long-used process is no longer reliable

In the past, when ICE detained defendants while their state cases were ongoing, prosecutors relied on court orders called writs to ensure the defendants still appeared in court. A writ in this context is a judge’s order to a custodial agency, like a jail or immigration detention center, requiring the agency to bring the defendant to court.

ICE is no longer reliably complying with writs to produce defendants for their state hearings, First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King said.

“It’s hard to know and it’s hard to predict how a writ will be honored or not,” she said. “…A writ was our standard process that we relied on to keep someone available for a criminal proceeding. It is not consistently working.”

ICE hasn’t communicated its policies or procedures in any cohesive way to her team of Jefferson and Gilpin county prosecutors, King said. Her office is relying on personal connections between staff and officials at ICE to try to ensure defendants in federal custody are brought to court.

“It’s felt pretty ad hoc, and often reliant on us being very proactive,” she said.

ICE officials informed the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Denver Sheriff Department in June that the agency would no longer comply with writs for detainees in immigration custody to physically appear in the counties’ criminal courts.

“ICE Denver is no longer honor (sic) writ from Denver County Court due to the Denver County Jail do not (sic) comply with immigration detainer or fail to transfer custody of aliens in a safe and orderly manner,” Hung Thach, a supervisory detention and deportation officer in the Denver field office, wrote in a June 16 email to Denver officials.

In a statement issued to 9News and Colorado Public Radio, Denver Field Office Director Robert Gaudian said ICE would not honor the writs because agency officials were not confident the detainees would be returned to ICE’s custody after their state court appearances.

Kotecki did not respond to a request to share that statement with The Post. He previously has requested blanket anonymity for his statements as a spokesman for the federal agency, which The Post declined to grant. He also has said he would no longer provide information to The Post unless the newspaper complied with his request for anonymity.

“In the past, ICE Denver and the Adams County sheriff have enjoyed a great working relationship, with ICE honoring writs for trials and the sheriff notifying us of an alien’s release,” Gaudian said in the statement, according to 9News. “This relationship must be reciprocal, though. If I’m not confident that the sheriff will return an alien to us, then I cannot in good conscience release that individual.”

Denver sheriff’s spokeswoman Daria Serna defended the department’s practices for handling writs in a statement Wednesday.

“The Denver Sheriff Department’s policy and practice for the transfer of people in custody are in alignment with state and local laws,” she said.

ICE approach varies by jurisdiction

So far in Boulder, immigration authorities have largely complied with writs to produce defendants for state court hearings with just a handful of exceptions, said Michael Dougherty, the Boulder County district attorney.

The bigger risk for his office is not knowing about ICE detainment in time to seek a writ and delay deportation, because federal agents are failing to consistently alert prosecutors when they arrest defendants in state criminal cases, he said.

“ICE should provide a notification anytime they pick someone up and the person is a defendant,” Dougherty said. “That has not always happened. What has happened, more often than not, is we find out from the defense attorney or someone connected to the defendant that someone has been arrested by ICE and held for possible deportation.”

Dougherty noted that deportations seem to be happening much faster than in past years. When a defendant is deported in the middle of a case, it has a broad impact, he said.

“The victim never had his or her day in court,” he said. “We couldn’t do justice. There is no conviction, no sex offender registration and no consequences. And the person is deported to a country. We have no reason to believe the person is held responsible for the crime they were accused of.”

In Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, prosecutors have not had any issues with ICE agents deporting defendants mid-case, said 23rd Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler. He said federal agents have given his office warnings when ICE is interested in defendants, which has allowed prosecutors to revoke defendants’ bonds to keep them in jail — in state custody — while the criminal case is pending.

Gorman, the defense attorney, said revoking bond simply because a person could be deported is fundamentally unfair.

“We’re just basically saying to them, ‘Yeah, we put all these terms and conditions on your bond and you’ve got to comply with them or we will revoke your bond,” she said. “But even if you do absolutely everything right and show up at all your court dates, we might revoke your bond anyway… even though you followed all the rules.”

Arrests at courthouses

Colorado law prohibits ICE agents from arresting people at or near state courthouses for civil immigration purposes — a line that federal agents have crossed multiple times this year, including in Denver and on the Western Slope.

Federal agents have also been routinely making immigration arrests at Denver’s federal courthouses, which are not covered by the state prohibition.

In Garfield, Pitkin and Rio Blanco counties, federal agents monitored courthouse dockets in order to detain defendants for immigration proceedings, Ninth Judicial District Chief Judge John Neiley wrote in an April 8 order instructing federal agents to stop.

“In short, these types of arrests make courthouses less safe, frustrate the process of justice, and could have a chilling effect on litigants, witnesses, victims, court personnel and other members of the public who have a right and obligation to participate fairly in the judicial system,” Neiley wrote in the order.

Although the practice is against Colorado law, there are no criminal penalties for federal agents who make such prohibited arrests. Rather, state law says they can be held in contempt of court or sued by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Spokesman Lawrence Pacheco said the office could not confirm or comment on any such investigations.

“Attorney General (Phil) Weiser is concerned about reports of ICE arrests at state courthouses interfering with state criminal prosecutions and having a chilling effect on witnesses and victims in criminal cases,” Pacheco said. “Federal immigration arrests at courthouses make our communities less safe and violate state law.”

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