Dakota Teens Allegedly Abducted, Pistol-Whipped in Sterling Heights Home

Three men are facing serious felony charges following the abduction and assault of four teens.

All three subjects are currently in custody. The extent of the charges against them will be determined after the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office reviews the case today.

On June 13, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Sterling Heights police responded to a home in the 13000 block of Canal, after receiving a call from a mother who reported her 16-year-old son had been assaulted.

During the following investigation, detectives discovered that the owner of the home in which the teens were assaulted also runs a medical marijuana growing operation.

The homeowner told police on-site that his home had been burglarized several days before but he did not report the incident to the police. He heard that several 15- to 16-year-old males, who attend Dakota High School, were responsible, and had his teenage son invite the students to his house under the pretense that they would get an ounce of marijuana for free, according to the police report.

However, once the teens arrived, the homeowner and two associates, all white males around 45 years of age, took them into the basement and bound them with duct tape, according to police.

The men pistol-whipped one of the teens and struck them with the scabbard of a samurai sword. They also threatened to cut off the teens’ fingers and toes with a circular power saw which they held next to one victim's face as it was running, according to the police report.

Police believe a total of five to six teens came to the home in two groups. Two were able to flee before being abducted, one of whom called his mother, who contacted the police.

Of the teens abducted and assaulted, one suffered a possible broken arm and the other three had less serious injuries, consisting of bruises, contusions and lacerations, according to police.