Teen, 2 adults face charges in connection with armed robbery
All to appear before judge Sept. 14; Fourth suspect sought
A teenager and two adults are facing charges in connection with the armed robbery of a Pontiac woman last Friday.
Arraigned Tuesday in 50th District Court were Dresean Hopkins, 17, of Sterling Heights, Jessie Branch, 20, of Pontiac, and Jalyn Cowart, 23, of Pontiac. A fourth suspect is at-large.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened shortly after 10 p.m. at an apartment in the 100 block of Cherry Hill Drive.
The victim reported that she answered a knock at her door and one of three males at the door — later identified as Cowart — pulled out a gun and pointed it at her head.
The woman grabbed the gun and a struggle ensued, but Cowart regained control of the gun and the three then fled, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies spotted the suspects’ vehicle and attempted to pull it over, and after a brief pursuit it crashed into another vehicle at the intersection of Cloverlawn and West Kennett streets in Pontiac, the sheriff’s office said.
Four suspects jumped from the vehicle, running in different directions, and with assistance from a K-9 unit three of the four were located and taken into custody. The K-9 also located a mask worn by one of the suspects and the gun used in the incident, the sheriff’s office said.
Hopkins, reportedly the driver of the vehicle, is charged with armed robbery and fleeing and eluding.
Judge Cynthia Walker set bond at $10,000.
Branch is charged with armed robbery, and a personal bond was set at $10,000.
Cowart, 23, is accused of being the gunman. He’s charged with armed robbery, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
His bond was set at $50,000 cash.
All three are scheduled to appear before Judge Michael Martinez on Sept. 14.