A mother and son physically forced an intruder from their E. Washington home in Clarkston on Dec. 21 after he allegedly attacked the woman.
Rogelio Lopez Medina of Clarkston, 18 was arraigned on one count of home invasion before Judge Kelley Kostin in 52-2 District Court on Dec. 21. Bond was set at $500,000 cash or surety.
Police located the suspect walking west on Church Street east of Buffalo. Deputies wrestled the suspect to the ground after he reportedly ignored several verbal warnings to stop.
According to police reports, the woman was dropped off at home around 1 a.m. She entered the house to get the keys to move her son’s car when she heard the floor creak. Thinking it was her 20-year-old son, she called out to him. Getting no response she checked his room and found him asleep.
The woman left the house, moved the car and reentered the house going to the kitchen when again she heard someone walking.
Grabbing a bottle of wine she started walking through the house to investigate the noise. As she left the kitchen, she encountered a male wearing all black in the hallway.
The man allegedly grabbed her by both arms and tried to take her to the ground. The woman yelled for her son and was thrown against the wall. The report stated the man yelled at the woman in a language she could not understand.
Police reports state that eventually the son, woken by the scuffle, came downstairs and wrestled with the man. The woman then hit the intruder over the head with the wine bottle. They were able to force the man out of their home and call 911.
The woman had redness under her eye and had recovered a piece of black steel she said was not from the house. Police found no signs of forced entry on the front door. The woman stated that the front door was unlocked when she went outside to move the car.
Independence Township Fire Department was called to treat the victim’s injuries.
‘I don’t advise what the victim did, but kudos to her, she did a good job,? said Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Detective Lonnie Mullins.
Detectives attempted to interview Medina through an interpreter as he denied being able to speak English, but were unable to establish a motive or explanation for entering the home.
Mullins said the subject had had a few drinks, but was not intoxicated during the interview.
‘When the testimony is taken there may be an enhancement of the charges at the preliminary exam because he was armed (with the metal object) and she was injured. This was quite a struggle,? said Lt. Dale LaBair of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department substation in Independence Township.
A press release from Oakland County Sheriff’s Department stated Medina is believed to be an undocumented person from Mexico and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has been notified. He has no known criminal record in this country or previous police contacts.
Mullins said the preliminary exam is scheduled for Jan. 3 at 8:30 before Judge Kostin.