Three Arrested in Bus Stop Robbery

From left, Bernard Looper, Ashley Looper and Cordell Wilson, all of Detroit. (Dearborn Police photos)

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Three people have been arrested and face charges after allegedly stealing a man’s cell phone Tuesday while he waited at a bus stop near Michigan and Guley about 1:30 p.m.

The victim, a 27-year-old Dearborn man, told police he was approached by two young males, one of whom asked to use his cell phone, Dearborn police said in a statement. When he refused, the man allegedly grabbed him from behind and began choking him while the second suspect removed the man’s cell phone from his pocket.

Both men fled on foot eastbound on Michigan Avenue.

A citizen who saw the robbery in progress and alerted police, who were conducting a traffic stop in the area. They responded to th scene and relayed the description of the perpetrators to other police.

Dearborn Police uniform and plain-clothes officers then worked together to locate and arrest three subjects believed to have been involved in the robbery. After the arrest, officers discovered a loaded handgun with an obliterated serial number in a vehicle being used by the suspects.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has authorized charges of unarmed robbery, carrying a concealed weapon and second-offense habitual offender against one of those arrested, Bernard Looper, 21 of Detroit. He was arraigned Thursday in 19th District Court, where bond was set at $15,000. His preliminary exam is set for July 17.

Two others – Cordell Wilson, 23, and Ashley Looper, 18, both of Detroit – were arraigned on charges of receiving and concealing stolen property. Bond for each was set at $500. They’re due back in 19th District Court for a pre-trial conference on Aug. 14.

“I am pleased that the focused traffic enforcement efforts during our ‘Operation Blue Light’ crime suppression initiative resulted in officers being present on a traffic stop in the area during the time of this robbery,” Police Chief Ronald Haddad said in a statement.

“As always, we rely on a coordinated effort between all units of our department, and the community, to achieve the best possible results in our pursuit of those who would commit violent crimes in our city and surrounding region,” he said.