Trail cameras are typically used to capture images of deer for hunting purposes, but in this case, they helped capture much more elusive prey.
They snapped photos that led police straight to a 27-year-old Oxford Township man with a laundry list of criminal convictions, who’s allegedly tied to multiple break-ins in Brandon and Independence townships.
Chadwick Adam Cartner was arraigned Oct. 3 in the Rochester Hills 52-3 District Court on two counts of receiving and concealing stolen property over $200, but less than $1,000. Each is punishable by up to one year in prison.
He was also arraigned in Waterford 51st District Court on one count of receiving and concealing stolen property over $1,000, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
At each arraignment, Cartner’s bond was set at 10 percent of $25,000. He’s currently being lodged in the Oakland County Jail. If released, he must wear a GPS tether.
An Independence Twp. resident’s trail camera captured photos of a suspicious man and his vehicle on Pine Knob Rd. Sept. 24. Due to recent break-ins in the area, a search began for this individual and vehicle.
The vehicle was located in Sashabaw Meadows mobile home park in Brandon Township the next day. It was registered to Cartner, who had a warrant out for him as a parole absconder. He had been on parole since December 2012.
Cartner was arrested at his Oxford residence by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Fugitive Apprehension Team and deputies. Evidence from three Brandon Township break-ins was discovered inside Cartner’s home, according to the sheriff’s department.
Whether or not home invasion charges are issued against Cartner will depend on what sheriff’s investigators are able to uncover. ‘We can tie him into some B&Es (breaking and entering), but we can’t get him into the house and he won’t talk to us,? said Sheriff’s Lt. Dirk Feneley, commander of the Independence Twp. substation.
Although evidence from three burglaries was allegedly discovered in Cartner’s home, Feneley said investigators believe he’s connected to a total of six break-ins in Brandon and Independence townships.
Michigan’s Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) revealed that Cartner has 20 criminal convictions dating back to 2004.
His criminal record includes nine convictions for stealing and retaining a financial transaction device (such as a credit card) without consent.
Cartner’s been convicted of second-degree home invasion four times along with one conviction each for first-degree home invasion and breaking and entering a building with intent to steal. He’s also been convicted of four felony firearms charges and one larceny of a firearm charge.
Many of the crimes Cartner was convicted of occurred in Oxford Township.
For example, he burglarized a Gill St. home in May 2004 and invaded homes on Pocahontas Trail and Indian Lake Road in August 2005.