Serial robber caught after crashing stolen vehicle into civilian’s car

K9 team makes arrest in Eastpointe High School parking lot

A suspected serial robber was arrested Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of an area high school after leading police on a chase through several south Macomb County communities and crashing into a civilian’s car, according to Warren police.

The 28-year-old suspect, who police think is responsible for several strong arm holdups in the tri-county area, is being held in the Warren Police Department lockup. He may be arraigned on numerous felony charges Thursday.

“There is no doubt that this suspect posed a threat to the community and needed to be apprehended,” Police Commissioner William Dwyer said in a news release.

According to Warren police, the incident began about 3:20 p.m. when officers were called to respond to a robbery that occurred at a Dollar General store on Van Dyke Avenue near Martin Road.

Staff members from the store told dispatchers they had been robbed of cash. Officers began collecting information, when about 15 minutes later, they were notified of a robbery at a Dollar General on Hoover Road near Martin, about one mile away.

The physical description and vehicle information matched the first robbery, Dwyer said. Officers realized the same person likely robbed both stores.

Police began canvassing the area for the suspect vehicle, described as a black Chrysler 300. Authorities later learned the car had been stolen out of Southfield.

The vehicle was soon spotted near Leisure Drive and Schoenherr Road, where police attempted to stop it, but the driver kept going.

Dwyer said officers pursued the stolen car through various streets in Warren and Eastpointe. The chase lasted about 15 minutes, he said.

While approaching the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue in Eastpointe, the suspect vehicle crashed into a civilian’s car, causing minor damage.

The civilian endured a non-serious injury, according to the release.

The suspect then got out and attempted to run away. Officers set up a perimeter and eventually a K9 team found and arrested him in the parking lot of Eastpointe High School on Couzens Avenue, a few blocks away.

Police said the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Investigators located evidence from the robberies inside the vehicle.

Investigators will be contacting other jurisdictions to confirm this suspect’s involvement in other robbery incidents.

In the release, Dwyer said the robber was caught “thanks to the outstanding police work” by Warren police.

“I want the public to know that violent crime will not be tolerated in the City of Warren,” Dwyer said. “The Warren Police Department will use all resources available to make quick arrests of suspects committing violent crimes in the city.”

Police will present their findings to the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office for authorization of criminal charges. An arraignment is expected to be held Thursday.