Accused Criminals Have Been Busy In Dearborn, And So Have Police

DEARBORN, MI — Dearborn police said at a news conference Wednesday that they’ve made multiple arrests in crimes that have occurred in the city since last fall, including terrorism charges against a man accused of threatening to drive a vehicle equipped with explosive devices through the police station if Police Chief Ronald Haddad didn’t deposit a large amount of cash in his credit union account.

Also, a 42-year-old Inkster resident was charged with ethnic intimidation and malicious destruction of property in connection with multiple reports of racial and religious graffiti spray-painted on cars and homes in the area of Gulley and Cherry Hill in the overnight hours of Jan. 5-6.

The suspect, who was identified through surveillance video in the area, is awaiting arraignment. His name has not been released.

Similar crimes were reported in Inkster, police said.

Homicide

Those arrested include murder suspect Kayla Thomas, 21, of Taylor, who is accused of shooting a motorist who then crashed into several parked vehicles in the area of Madison and Bennett around 10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16. The victim, Raymond Mshahwar, 33, of Canton, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Two alleged accomplices, Walbert Morales-Castro, 18, of Detroit, and a 16-year-old female from Dearborn, were arrested on Dec. 13. They are awaiting trial in 3rd Circuit Court. Thomas, who was arrested on Jan. 27, is charged with homicide-felony murder, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and armed robbery. She is being held in the Wayne County Jail without bond, and is due back on court Friday.

Jewelry Store Robbery

Police said three men — Uriel Drake, 26; Martez Lyons, 19; and Denzell Bunkley, 24 — entered a jewelry store in the area of Warren Avenue and Schaefer in Dearborn about 1 p.m. Dec. 21 and posed as customers. One of the men was disguised as a female wearing a full robe and hijab.

They had to be buzzed into the store, and once inside smashed several display cases, pistol-whipped the store owner, store numerous jewelry items and fled the store in an older model red Chevrolet Cavalier convertible, police said.

After surveillance footage was distributed to the media and area police, a police officer in a nearby jurisdiction was able to develop information that was provided to Dearborn detectives.

“This information was a crucial turning point in the investigation,” Haddad said in a statement. The three were later arrested at their residences, and the getaway car and numerous pieces of evidence were seized when a search warrant was executed.

On Jan.23, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges of armed robbery, assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, felony firearm and assault against all three men. Each was given a $500,000 cash bond with a GPS tether requirement. They are due back in court for a preliminary exam on Feb.24.

Threat Of Terrorism

On Jan. 1, Haddad received an email in his police department account stating that a terrorist would drive a car equipped with explosives through the front door of the police station and 19th District Court if Haddad didn’t deposit a large amount of money into his credit union account.

The suspect, Brian Short, 43, of Garden City, was wanted for similar threats in neighboring communities. After a collaborative investigation with the Garden City Police Department, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office filed charges of false report/threat of terrorism and using a computer to commit a crime. Both are 20-year felonies.

Short was arraigned on Feb. 3, and bond was set at $100,000 bond. A probable cause conference was held on Feb. 10, at which time Short was ordered to undergo a competency evaluation.

Home Invasions

Shady Karim, 29, of Shelby Township, was arrested in a series of home invasions that occurred on the city’s northeast end on the first weeks of January. Several stolen items were recovered from various pawn shops, police said.

Police said Karim has a history of home invasions and was on parole with a GPS tether for those crimes. He is also suspected in other home invasions throughout the city, police said.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office authorized four warrants for second-degree home invasion and two warrants for habitual offender – fourth notice, and was given $100,000 cash bond. Karim waived his right to a preliminary exam in 3rd Circuit Court processes.

Home Invasion In Progress

Two men, Breon Williams, 22, and Dejuan Scott, 29, both of Detroit, were apprehended around 9:30 a.m. Jan. 19 after an officer on patrol saw one of them climbing through a first-floor window of a home near Venice and Ash, police said. The police officer approached the home to investigate and apprehended the two after a brief foot chase, police said.

A third suspect, Nicole Bailey, was also seen in the area and was arrested on an unrelated 3rd Circuit Court Warrant, police said. Bailey is Williams’ mother and Scott’s girlfriend.

Williams and Scott were charged with home invasion and larceny in a building, and were arraigned via video. Williams’ bond was set at $10,000, and Scott’s was set at $20,000. Both waived their preliminary exams and are awaiting the 3rd Circuit Court proceedings.

Assault With Intent To Murder

Two men charged with assault with intent to commit murder in gunfire at the NarBar Lounge and Grill on Michigan Avenue on Sept. 17, 2016, have been adjudicated. The men — Allante Percy, 24, and Mario Amison, 29 — fled the scene in a vehicle and officers pursued them, subsequently arresting both after a brief foot chase.

Three shooting victims were transported to Beaumont Hospital for non-life threatening injuries and later released.

On Feb. 1, Percy entered into a deal prior to a jury trial, pleading guilty to two counts of assault with intent to murder and felony firearm. As part of the deal, 10 other charges were dismissed. He is expected to be sentenced on Feb. 22 to a mandatory two years in prison for felony firearm to run consecutively with 10-30 years for the attempted murder.

Also on Feb. 1, Amison was found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon, felony firearm and felon in possession of firearm after a bench trial. His sentencing is also scheduled for Feb. 22.

Theft From Vehicles

In the early morning hours of Jan. 31, an officer on patrol observed footprints in the snow leading up to parked vehicles in the area of Rockford and S. Melborn Streets. Officers discovered that several larcenies from vehicles had been committed by following the footprints in the snow.

In addition, a vehicle had been stolen and then abandoned a short distance away from the owner’s home. Officers continued to track the footprints to the area of Michigan and Geneva where they arrested Ronald Yharbrough, 19, of Inkster, and a 14-year-old male from Dearborn.

Yharbrough was charged with 14 felony and six misdemeanor charges. His bond was set at $21,000 cash, with the condition that he wear a GPS tether if released. He is due back in court Friday for a preliminary exam.

The 14-year old is currently awaiting Juvenile Court proceedings.

Main image: Patch file photo