A Flat Rock detective's instincts helped police catch a man suspected of robbing a Bank of America branch in under 10 minutes Thursday morning.

A teller at the Bank of America on Telegraph Road called 911 at 9:20 a.m. to report a robbery. After grabbing the money, police say the suspect ran from the bank on foot.

"We were on scene within 5 minutes," Chief Steven McInchak said.

7 News Detroit reporter Carli Petrus has the story in the video below:

Flat Rock police arrest bank robbery suspect in under 10 minutes after detective spots him on the street

The first officer on scene quickly broadcast a description of the suspect to other officers in the area. Just one minute later, a Flat Rock detective spotted a man who matched that description nearby.

"Our detective who is a seasoned officer saw one of the police cars with lights and sirens and he didn't really flinch so it raised the hairs on the back of his neck that something just isn't right with this gentleman and so that's when he was able to turn around and follow him," McInchak said.

The detective kept an eye on the suspect as he walked west along Telegraph, then behind Jet's Pizza, and made his way through a hole in a nearby fence. Officers found him in the parking lot of an old butcher's shop.

By 9:30 a.m., officers from Flat Rock, Rockwood and Gibraltar had the suspect surrounded. One minute later, he was on the ground and in custody.

"We did a search of the bag he was carrying and we found a pellet gun that was in the car, the clothing that he was wearing, during the robbery, and the cash," McInchak said.

7 News Detroit asked Bank of America about the robbery. A spokesperson directed all questions to local police. We also found an armed security guard patrolling outside the bank Thursday. We also asked the bank whether that was already part of its security or whether the guard was there because of this robbery. The company declined to comment.

"Good old fashioned police work. There was not a lot of technology used in this. In my career, catching a bank robber is a difficult thing to do because they usually have vehicles and they're ahead of us but the good old fashioned police work and catching a bank robber in this case was just a good team effort from all the agencies that helped us out," McInchak said.

The suspect is currently in custody. The case has been turned over to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

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A 35-year-old Taylor man was killed Thursday night after being struck by two vehicles while trying to cross Van Born Road. The second driver fled the scene and has not been arrested.

Chris Leslie was first hit by an oncoming vehicle on Van Born Road. That driver stopped. Cpl. Anthony Borg of the Taylor Police Department told 7 News Detroit what happened next.

7 News Detroit's Carli Petrus has the story in the video below:

Taylor man, 35, killed by two drivers on Van Born Road; second driver fled scene and is not in custody

"Approximately 20 to 30 seconds later there was another vehicle that was traveling eastbound on Van Born that ran over the victim again. That person did flee the scene of the accident," Borg said.

Police used surveillance cameras, including Flock cameras, to track down the second driver and speak with them. Borg said the technology was essential in identifying the vehicle.

"Without the use of Flock in this case we probably would not have been able to identify the license plate on that vehicle to make contact with the driver of it," Borg said.

That driver has not been arrested. Police also believe drugs or alcohol were involved with the first driver but are still waiting for forensic testing results.

Leslie's brother, Aaron Baker, said he was devastated when he heard what happened.

"I just lost it," Baker said.

John Curcio, a friend who had helped Leslie through tough times, said no one should have to die the way Leslie did.

"No one deserves to be killed like this. No one," Curcio said.

Curcio said Leslie had been struggling with homelessness and substance abuse, and that he had tried to help him through some of those tough times.

"You don't leave somebody like that, that's unacceptable," Curcio said.

Curcio is now helping Leslie's brother, who is also dealing with homelessness, as the family works to make sure Chris gets a proper burial.

"That would mean a lot, a whole lot," Baker said.

Baker wants people to remember his brother for who he was, and not for the struggles he was facing.

"He was funny, kind, always told jokes," Baker said.

Curcio also called on the community to do more for people in need.

"We need to help these people that are out here on these corners. We need to do something. Not leave them dead on the side of the road," Curcio said.

No one is in custody. Police say they are still investigating what happened.

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A 4-year-old girl is dead and her mother and 10-year-old sister remain hospitalized, fighting for their lives, after a train struck the family near Ecorse High School over the weekend.

Loved ones identified the girl as Raniyah Chambliss. Her father shared photos of her and said she was beautiful and the most precious thing he had. He was not ready to speak on camera but wants people to know how loved his little girl was.

Watch the latest on this story from 7 News Detroit reporter Carli Petrus in the video below:

4-year-old girl dies after family is struck by train in Ecorse; mother and sister remain hospitalized

Police say Raniyah, her 32-year-old mother and her 10-year-old sister were trying to cross the tracks Sunday night while a train was stopped when a second train came through and hit them. All three were taken to Corewell Health.

Police say everything was operational at the time of the incident, including the gate arms and all of the lights. Police also do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved.

CN Rail, which operates in the area, directed all questions about the crash to Ecorse police.

Police say they are still investigating what happened.

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A 32-year-old mother and her two children, ages 10 and 4, are in the hospital after being struck by a train while crossing railroad tracks directly behind Ecorse High School.

Police say the family was trying to cross the tracks while a train was stopped. That stopped train blocked their view of a second train coming through, which struck them.

School leaders say students have also used the area as a shortcut.

7 News Detroit reporter Carli Petrus has the story in the video below:

Mother, 2 children in hospital after second train strikes family crossing tracks in Ecorse, Michigan

Police say the investigation is still in the early stages. There is no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved. They also confirmed that everything was operational at the time of the incident, including gate arms and flashing lights.

Video captured a man climbing over the tracks and a stopped train to get to the other side on Monday.

Ecorse Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Josha Talison said he got a call about the crash Sunday night and was immediately concerned it could involve one of his students.

"Yeah, the train sits there sometimes but we always instruct our students to go around. Don't risk anything because I was not aware that if something is sitting another train can come," Talison said. "First of all, I was alarmed because the captain of the police department let me know that it was a parent and two children and when they mentioned the names I just wanted to see if it was one of our students."

Talison said he recognized the name of the older child.

"The student went to our school last year and they are currently not enrolled in our district but they are from the community so any time anybody has any incident in the community, our school activates because we are the hub so we have provided some counseling for our fifth graders because some of those students knew the young lady involved," Talison said.

Sam Crowl, Operation Lifesaver state coordinator and former locomotive engineer, is working to prevent crashes like this one.

"We certainly hate to hear about these incidents," Crowl said.

Crowl said he has seen firsthand the worst of what can happen around train tracks.

"My job as an engineer I had hit and killed two families," Crowl said.

Crowl said the stopped train in the area is especially concerning something several people who live nearby told me happens often.

"I would like to see something done however that's not up to me. My job is education and encouraging state elected officials to perhaps build an overpass or underpass so these things don't happen," Crowl said.

7 News Detroit reached out to CN Rail, which operates in the area. A spokesperson said all questions about this incident should be directed to the Ecorse Police Department.

The mother and her children remain in the hospital as police continue to investigate.

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Surveillance video shows Detroit Homicide Detective Lariah Stevens driving the wrong way on Vernier Road before crashing into another vehicle and then leaving the scene on foot. Stevens now faces three criminal charges.

7 News Detroit reporter Carli Petrus obtained the surveillance video, which was recorded from a nearby Wayne County Community College building. She also sat down with former Detroit Police Department Assistant Chief Steve Dolunt and showed him the entire 9-minute recording.

Watch the story in the video below:

Detroit police homicide detective charged with OWI after wrong-way crash captured on surveillance video

In the video, a dark, unmarked vehicle comes into view traveling the wrong way down Vernier Road with its emergency lights flashing. Seconds later, it crashes into another vehicle as that driver was trying to make a turnaround.

"Oh," Steve Dolunt said.

A source tells me the driver is Detroit Homicide Detective Lariah Stevens. Stevens is accused of driving the wrong way, crashing into another vehicle and then leaving the scene on foot with two firearms in the front seat.

After the crash, the police vehicle pulls to the side of the road and almost immediately, the emergency lights go off. The driver then gets out.

"She has her four-ways on, a little too late but okay. She has her flashers on there, she's walking away," Dolunt said.

The other driver's vehicle remained in the turnaround for several minutes after the crash.

"And no one's stopping at all," Dolunt said.

About eight minutes after the crash, police arrived.

Stevens is now facing three charges: OWI with a high blood alcohol content, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. A source tells me a breath test showed a blood alcohol level of .19.

"Leaving the scene of an injury accident is kind of a big deal. Causing injury and you're intoxicated," Dolunt said.

Dolunt also questioned who may have served Stevens before the crash.

"I guess another question I want to ask is anyone able to follow back with who was serving her, at what establishment, because they could be charged for serving someone who is intoxicated. You're supposed to cut them off," Dolunt said.

Dolunt said the biggest issue, in his view, is what happened after the crash.

"Whether you're in law enforcement or not, you shouldn't be drinking and driving. If you're in an accident, stop. The worst they're going to do is charge you with drunk driving. Your life is not over, but if you don't go and check on the victim, and god forbid the victim is seriously injured, it's going to follow you the rest of your life," Dolunt said.

Stevens pleaded not guilty at her arraignment this week. Her attorney told the judge Stevens has been getting professional help.

"She's been abstinent from any alcohol," her attorney said.

A DPD spokesperson tells me Stevens has been suspended with pay. She is due back in court Oct. 26. I reached out to her attorney for a response to this new video and am still waiting to hear back.

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A Saint Clair Shores family is combining Halloween spirit with Detroit Lions pride on Joy Street all for a 15-year-old boy who loves the holiday.

Chad Latta is the creative force behind the display, which this year features skeletons dressed as Lions players past and present, tombstones covered in team statistics, and a tribute to head coach Dan Campbell and his two dogs all part of what the family calls the Lion's Den.

"This year we did a little something different from last year. We wanted to do the Lion's Den," Chad Latta said.

Get a Look at the Display in the Video Player Below

The family recently moved to the neighborhood, but they brought their Halloween tradition with them. The street name felt like a perfect fit.

"That's why we laughed about when it happened. We found the house we were going to move into, and we're like, we're on Joy Street, and we want to bring Joy to people," Latta said.

The Lions theme is a natural extension of the family's passion for the team.

"We're big fans of Dan, Dan Campbell so we always try to make one big thing of him," Latta said.

Every display begins with a hand-drawn sketch. This year, the original plan was to build a walk-through tunnel but nature had other ideas.

"You were going to be able to walk through it, and nature told me to change my direction because it took the tent down," Latta said.

The display also nearly didn't happen this year for a different reason.

"Because it was just, financially it was tough, and things we had going on, we just had moved, and the first thing they asked was hey, are we putting up our Halloween display, and that kind of triggered it to get it going again," Latta said.

At the heart of it all is Brody, Chad's son. Chad started going all out for Halloween nearly 10 years ago, and every year he tries to make it a little more special.

"My son, he's 15-years-old, he's autistic, loves Halloween, he's just a happy kids," Latta said.

"He gets excited about it and seeing that, it pumps me up. Even when I don't want to do it, it makes me, pushes me that little extra to do it," Latta said.

Last year, I first featured Chad and his family's Halloween tradition. This year, I got to meet 15-year-old Brody.

When I asked Brody if he liked that his dad decorates their yard for Halloween, his answer was simple.

"Yes," Brody Latta said.

When I asked why, Brody explained it in his own words.

"Because dad is a really good decorator. He's not so much into Christmas, but, I don't think he's much into Thanksgiving," Brody said.

This year, Chad's daughter Emma is also helping bring the display to life.

"I did a lot of other embroidery of the tombstones," Emma Latta said.

The decorations are already doing exactly what the family hoped bringing people together.

"Our neighbor had a big yard sale a couple days ago and as the people were pulling up they were like we're coming back, oh my gosh, and they were already asking if they can go in it as we were putting the characters up," Latta said.

The display will remain up through Halloween. On Halloween night, the family plans to open it up so trick-or-treaters can walk through.

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Detroit Police Homicide Detective Lariah Stevens appeared in court Wednesday for arraignment after police say she drove the wrong way on Vernier Road and crashed into another vehicle.

Stevens was arraigned at the 32 A District Court in Harper Woods before Judge Rebekah R. Coleman. She is charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI) with a high blood alcohol content, driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. She pleaded not guilty.

"Judge, she awaits formal reading and asks the court for a plea of not guilty," her attorney said.

Watch the Latest Coverage in the Case Below

Her attorney then addressed the judge, asking the court to consider Stevens' circumstances when setting bond.

"My client has been getting help, professional help, she has been abstinent from any type of alcohol, she has no prior record," the attorney said.

The judge set bond at $1,000. Stevens is expected back in court October 26.

The crash happened September 10 on Vernier Road near Eight Mile Road at around 8:30 p.m. Police say Stevens was behind the wheel of an unmarked Detroit Police vehicle, driving west in the eastbound lanes with her emergency lights on.

Police say she crashed into another vehicle as that driver was trying to make a turnaround. Stevens then left the crash scene on foot, leaving two guns inside the police vehicle. Police say she returned about 20 minutes later. A breath test showed a blood alcohol level of .19.

New photos, taken by the driver of the other vehicle, show the damage left behind from the crash.

A Detroit Police Department spokesperson told me Stevens has been suspended with pay.

The driver of the other vehicle says the photos are a reminder of what could have been much worse. I spoke with her multiple times off camera, and she shared this statement:

"I encourage Officer Lariah Stevens to accept responsibility for her actions on the evening of September 10th, 2026. I strongly encourage Officer Stevens to make a firm commitment to take all necessary steps to get her life on track; get sober and stay sober and never let this happen to anyone else."

The criminal case and the Detroit Police Department's internal review are ongoing.

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