DEARBORN — On Thursday, May 16, the Dearborn Police Department held a press conference to address crime updates and issues in the city.

The conference focused on arrests of full-scale organized fraud involving ATM “skimming”, robberies, hit and run accidents and more.

Fraud and ATM skimmer

The Dearborn Police Department, along with the FBI and Michigan State Police, arrested two subjects involved in an ATM “skimming” scheme.

From approximately March 2018 through April 2019 these two individuals are alleged to have fraudulently obtained personal identifying information, including debit/credit card numbers and corresponding PINs from countless victims by installing “skimming” devices on ATM machines in the region.

The individuals allegedly used the captured data to manufacture fraudulent cards and used the victims’ PINs to steal money from bank accounts through ATM machines.

On April 13 Dearborn Police officers took the suspects into custody as they were in the process of stealing cash from a local bank’s ATM machine.

More than $40,000 in cash and 300 cards with encoded stolen credit/debit card information were recovered.

Both suspects, whose names are not being revealed due to the ongoing investigation, have been turned over to the FBI and subsequently indicted on multiple felony charges.

Three arrests for a stolen vehicle

On April 3, Dearborn Police officers were notified of a theft of a new Ford F-150 from an outside storage lot near Hubbard and Southfield.

As a result, officers checked the area and set up surveillance in the lot; the subjects returned moments later and attempted to steal more trucks. They were then all stopped and arrested.

Javonte Finley, Diamond McCray and Kelvon Cunningham were all charged by the Wayne County Prosecutor with unlawfully driving away an automobile. Finley and Cunningham appeared before Judge Mark Somers of the 19th District Court for arraignment and a $10,000 bond was set. McCray has an out-of-custody warrant.

A concealed weapon in a vehicle

Officers stopped a vehicle for an issue with the insurance presented to the Secretary of State on April 16. However, the suspects had a backpack with multiple stun guns, handguns and multiple rounds of ammunition.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s office charged Edward Pryor and Deshawn Rambus with multiple felonies. Both were arraigned by Judge Sam Salamey of the 19th District Court. Bond for Pryor was $100,000 cash, plus GPS tether. Rambus’ bond was set at $10,000 – 10 percent.

(L-R) Edward Pryor and Deshawn Rambus were charged with multiple felonies for concealed weapons in a vehicle -Photo courtesy of the Dearborn Police Department

Multiple reports of home invasions

Officers responded to multiple reports on break-ins in the student housing at the Union in the University of Michigan-Dearborn on Evergreen. Among the items taken were game consoles, money and other valuable.

After an intense investigation, Omari Reedus, 21, was taken into custody; several game consoles recovered were confirmed to be the stolen items.

The suspect did not live in the Union but was just visiting a resident. He was charged with first and second degree home invasion.

Reedus was arraigned in front of Judge Gene Hunt of the 19th District Court. A $100,000 bond with GPS was set. Reedus was subsequently forbidden from returning to the Union.

Omari Reedus was arrested for multiple home invasions at the Union -Photo courtesy of the Dearborn Police Department

Hit and run accident

On the morning of April 18, the Dearborn Heights Police stopped a Chevy Camara near Dartmouth. The driver fled the traffic stop and due to his reckless driving, the police officers terminated the pursuit.

He drove through Dearborn and made his way to Outer Drive and Michigan Avenue where he ran a red light at an extremely high rate of speed. He struck another vehicle, causing severe injuries to the other driver.

The driver fled on foot and was not located; Dearborn accident investigators processed the scene and identified a suspect. However, a man named Corey Reed turned himself in with his attorney present. Reed was arrested at that time.  

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s office charged Reed with multiple felonies related to both cities.

Corey Reed was charged with multiple felonies for a hit and run -Photo courtesy of the Dearborn Police Department

Armed robbery

On April 19, Dearborn officers responded to a robbery report at a bank near Warren and Wyoming. The investigation revealed a subject had assaulted a bank customer and took the money the customer had just withdrawn from their account.

Dearborn Special Operations officers located the subject still driving the getaway vehicle. He was stopped and arrested. The Wayne County Prosecutor charged Gary Waters with multiple felonies relating to the robbery.

Waters was arraigned in the 19th District Court in front of Judge Salamey

bond was set at $20,000 cash with a GPS tether.

Gary Waters was charged with multiple felonies relating to robberies -Photo courtesy of the Dearborn Police Department

Homicide update

In February 2018, Dearborn officers found Ismaeel Abdulla dying from a gunshot wound. The ensuing investigation found that Robert Gonzalez had shot him.

Gonzalez was set to go to trial in April. Before the trial, Gonzalez pled Nolo Contendre to second degree murder and was sentenced to 17-50 years by the Judge Qiana Lillard of the Third Circuit Court.

Robert Gonzalez was sentenced to 17-50 years for 2nd degree murder -Photo courtesy of the Dearborn Police Department

Updates and reminders

Weekly crime reduction statistics show crime activity in Dearborn has gone down by 13.9 percent. It was also made clear to residents that they keep valuables out of sight or in the trunk, as well as never to leave valuables in unattended vehicles.

“Lock it or lose it.”

To report police of any suspicious activity, please call (313) 943 -3030, or dial 911 in case of an emergency.

Weekly statistics of crimes in Dearborn as provided by Dearborn Police Department