Suspect in Crime Spree That Started in Bloomfield Township Charged With Multiple Felonies

The man who police say tried to rob two businesses in Bloomfield Township before committing crimes in other communities last week remains in the Oakland County Jail on $500,000 bond, court records show.

James Vincent Johnson, 27, was arraigned Tuesday and charged with one count of armed robbery, two counts of attempted armed robbery, and drug possession for his two-hour spree on Nov. 5.

A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf and he faces a preliminary hearing in 48th District Court next week. Court records did not indicate if he was represented by an attorney or if one would be assigned to his case.

Royal Oak police arrested Johnson after spotting his vehicle at about 8 p.m. near 13 Mile and Coolidge. Reports said that officers recognized it from a description provided by both Birmingham and Bloomfield Township police. By that time, police believe Johnsonrobbed a Hungry Howie's off of Woodward Avenue in Birmingham and earlier tried to rob a  and Mobil gas station on the township's north side.

He said he had a knife, but no weapon was seen, reports said. No one was injured. Bloomfield Township police said witnesses identified Johnson, of Birmingham, as the suspect and he was arrested without incident.

It is not Johnson's first run-in with authorities. He is currently on parole supervision after serving five years of a maximum 30-year sentence, prison records show. He pleaded no contest to three counts of attempted armed robbery and single counts each of unarmed robbery, attempted unarmed robbery and larceny in a building in Oakland County Circuit Court in 2005.

He also has three prior convictions for attempted armed robbery and attempted unarmed robbery from incidents in 2004, records show.