Alert Dearborn Residents Partner with Police to Fight Crime

Editor's note: A name has been removed from this article because charges against the individual were dismissed.

DEARBORN, MI — Multiple recent arrests in Dearborn are a direct result of citizens reporting suspicious activity to police, Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr. and Police Chief Ronald Haddad said Tuesday.

By being proactive and contacting police, citizens send a strong message to criminals that the community and police work together in Dearborn, and residents watch out for their neighbors, O’Reilly and Haddad said in a news release.

O’Reilly said community engagement between the police department and the citizens of Dearborn “contributes to the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, and visits our city.”

“We’re proud and grateful that our citizens have taken the initiative to contact the police immediately when they observed something suspicious, allowing our officers patrolling the neighborhoods to quickly respond and investigate,” Haddad said. “The police and community partnership is the most important element in maintaining a safe community.”

Both the mayor and chief remind citizens to continue to call the police department via the anonymous tip line at (313) 943-3030 and 911.

Details of the recent incidents are as follows:

About 5:40 a.m. on Aug. 26, police responded to a call from a citizen to the area of 1331 Falcon reporting two suspicious males on bicycles that she observed entering cars. Responding officers located the two subjects in question. During the investigation, officers recovered a large amount of loose change along with other miscellaneous property determined to be stolen from several unlocked vehicles in the area.

One of the suspects was identified as Dadonte Owens, 18, of Detroit, and the second suspect was a juvenile. Both were subsequently arrested. Owens pleaded guilty in 19th District Court and was sentenced to the Dearborn Work Program, probation and fines. The juvenile is awaiting further court proceedings in the Wayne County Juvenile court system.

About 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 29, police responded to a call from another citizen to the area of Williamson and Colson Streets reporting two men breaking into vehicles. The citizen-witness observed the suspects driving away from the area and gave police an accurate vehicle description, which allowed officers to find the vehicle as it was leaving the area. As officers attempted to stop the suspects, a brief vehicle and foot pursuit ensued, and once the suspects were apprehended, officers recovered numerous pieces of stolen property.

The suspects were identified as Mohammed Ahmed, 21, and Seddiq Almontesar, 18, both of Dearborn. Ahmed was charged with felony fleeing and eluding and three counts of larceny from vehicle. He was arraigned in 19th District Court, where his bond was set at $50,000/10 percent. If he posts bond, he will be required to wear a GPS tether if he posts bond.

Almontesar was charged with three counts of larceny from vehicle and also was arraigned in 19th District Court. His bond was set at $1,000 cash and a GPS tether will be required if he posts bond.

Their probable cause conferences have been scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday and their preliminary exams are Sept. 16, both in19th District Court.

In the overnight hours of Aug. 30, several vehicles were broken into in the area of Ford Road and Golfview. After an investigation, Dearborn evidence technicians recovered evidence from vehicles that were entered and identified Brandon Dorian Teal, 41, of Clinton Township, as a potential suspect.

Teal, who police say has a lengthy criminal history with several prior convictions for similar crimes, was located by Dearborn Special Operations officers and subsequently arrested and charged for the crimes. Teal pleaded guilty in 19th District Court and was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail.

About 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, police received a call from a Dearborn resident regarding a larceny from her vehicle that had just occurred in the area of Outer Drive and Ford Road. The resident provided the dispatcher with a suspect and vehicle description, and officers in the area observed a vehicle matching the description. Officers stopped the vehicle and a subsequent investigation revealed numerous stolen items inside.

The driver was identified as [name removed], who was charged as an adult, and a 16-year-old Dearborn resident. Both were arrested.

The juvenile was referred to the Wayne County Juvenile court system.

In addition, while conducting proactive patrol and traffic enforcement, Dearborn Police have made six arrests for weapons offenses and removed three firearms from city streets within the past week.

The police chief and the mayor remind residents that they can reduce their chances of being victims of thefts by always locking their vehicles and not leaving valuables inside them.

O’Reilly also urges all citizens to stay informed of police situations and investigations, inclement weather, road hazards and closures, by taking advantage of the NIXLE text and email messaging service. Visit Nixle.com to sign up.