Crime Blotter: Mother, Son in Police Custody at Same Time for Separate Assaults

Holding cells occupied by family members

A 34-year-old Chesterfield Township woman was locked up in police custody at the same time as her 17-year-old son for separate attacks, said Thursday.

Each of them had been arrested on suspicion of assault in late February. The teen was taken into custody for domestic violence against his mother and breaking the windows inside the Bay Pointe Townhomes complex on Rutherford Circle, according to police.

While in custody, his mother punched a complex maintenance man and threatened to damage his vehicle when the employee went to place plywood over her broken window, the incident report stated.

When police arrived to the complex Feb. 27, they saw the woman violently pounding on the front office glass doors and swearing at the staff. Employees feared she had a knife, but she was not armed. The woman was placed in handcuffs when she refused to stop hitting the glass. She was placed in a holding cell near her son for a brief time, police said.

The cases were turned over to prosecutors and charges are pending.

Alleged liquor thief promises to pay back store

A 43-year-old Dearborn man was arrested Feb. 27 on suspicion of retail fraud after he allegedly swiped a $5.79 bottle of Heaven Hill vodka from , said Thursday.

The man, who witnesses say appeared intoxicated, left his jacket and wallet inside the loss prevention's office at the store on 23 Mile and Gratiot because he didn't want to wait for police. Officers found the man inside a room at the Chesterfield Motor Inn, where he admitted to taking the bottle and leaving his belongings in the store, according to a police report.

"I did. I wanted to drink a little and I was going to pay them back on the 29th when I got my check," the man told police. 

Police administered a Breathalyzer test resulting in a .17 percent blood-alcohol level. He was taken to the station, booked on a third-degree retail fraud charge and transported back to his room.

Accused car thief claims misunderstanding

A 33-year-old man accused of car theft told he thought the owner gave him permission to take the vehicle from his New Baltimore home.

The suspect was staying with the car owner and his roommate because he was going through hard times and they were trying to help him. But, the car owner says the suspect snatched his sweatshirt with the keys to his 2006 Dodge Stratus inside on March 5 and left in his car, according to a police report.

When the man finally returned with his vehicle, he told officers he assumed he was allowed to drive it because the owner left his keys on the counter when the suspect mentioned plans to visit a relative. However, the car owner told police they did not have that conversation and the keys were inside his shirt pocket, the report states.

The owner pressed charges of unlawfully driving away of an automobile and the suspect was lodged at Macomb County Jail.

For questions on this crime blotter, contact christy.arboscello@patch.com.