Quick thinking on the part of two Addison Township deputies and the fast, cooperative response of the Michigan State Police enabled authorities to easily catch a suspected armed robber this past weekend.
According to the police reports, around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 10, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department received a dispatch for an armed robbery at the Leonard Market. Addison Township deputies Gary Murray and Mark Summers responded to the call.
Once on scene, Deputy Murray met with store employee Jody Harness who was able to provide a description of the suspect vehicle and license plate number. Deputy Murray states in his report the he requested dispatch to put out ‘a be on the lookout (BOLO) for the Oxford and northwest areas? for the suspect vehicle. Deputy Summers, who began traveling in the direction the suspect had fled, also radioed a request that Dryden be advised.
According to several eye witnesses listed in Deputy Murray’s report, the unknown suspect had entered the Leonard Market wearing a stocking over his head and carrying a crowbar. Witnesses reported that the man went behind the counter and attempted to open a register. Store owner Sanan Shamoun stated the suspect asked ‘for help to get into the register.?
The witnesses all stated that once the man succeeded in opening the drawer, he grabbed all the cash inside and fled. During the suspect’s exit, witness Jeffery Risch said he saw the man and ‘thought it was a joke and called him a thief? since he ‘had a stocking over his face, a bag and a crowbar in his hand.?
Another store employee, Elizabeth Hollis, had just gotten off work and was outside the building when the suspect entered the establishment. After witnessing the robbery, Hollis told authorities she watched the man leave in a four-door, white Ford Taurus and noted the license plate number.
At 8:45 p.m., Michigan State Police Trooper Ted Stone was patrolling southbound on Lake Pleasant Rd., located in Attica Township, Lapeer County, in response to the BOLO report issued by Addison Township deputies when he spotted the suspect vehicle.
According to his report, after following and observing the vehicle for a short period, Trooper Stone pulled over the Ford Taurus and identified the driver as 20-year-old Patrick McIntyre from Troy. Stone reported that with the assistance of MSP Troopers James Shaw and David Sosinski, McIntyre was patted down, read his rights and his vehicle was searched.
The MSP report states that during a post-Miranda rights interview, McIntyre admitted to robbing the Leonard Market while wearing a nylon stocking on his head and carrying a crowbar; however, the suspect insisted he held the crowbar stationary and had not ‘used it in a threatening manner.? The report also states that McIntyre informed officers where he had stashed different portions of the money, the nylon stocking and the crowbar.
McIntyre was placed under arrest by MSP, less than 30 minutes after the Leonard Market was robbed, and was transported back to Oakland County.
‘Our deputies were real fast with this one,? said Addison Substation Commander Sgt. Pete Burkett. ‘They can’t normally turn them around this fast. This was impressive. It was definitely Murray and Summers? quick thinking to put out that report that made this one possible.
‘I’m very please with the way the Michigan State Police responded with this,? he added. ‘Troopers Stone, Sosinski and Shaw did some fast and good work.?
During his interview with McIntyre, Burkett said he learned that the young man has a gambling problem and was actually heading to the casino in Sarnia when he needed to find a way to get money.
‘This is a perfect example of what gambling is doing to our society,? said Burkett. ‘This kid had nothing on his record, maybe a couple speeding tickets, and now he’s messed up his life over a couple hands of poker.?
Burkett requested a warrant for armed robbery of $1,293 from the Leonard Market. He added that time again was on the side of authorities and processing began immediately.
McIntyre was arraigned this past Monday at the 52-3 District Court in Rochester in Judge Soma’s courtroom on charges of armed robbery, which carries a maximum life sentence. He was released with a tether on $50,000 personal bond.
His preliminary hearing has been set for July 21.