Attorney General Dana Nessel has announced charges against four more people — Detroiters — allegedly connected to an auto theft operating in southeast Michigan.

The criminal organization is accused of stealing hundreds of vehicles from the region, targeting car dealerships and storage lots, parking lots and residences — then selling them on the black market at prices significantly below market value to buyers seeking unregistered vehicles, the AG’s Office stated in a news release. The stolen vehicles have reportedly been linked to other criminal activity.

The most recent arrests of the four Detroiters stem from an ongoing investigation by the Troy Police Department in partnership with FORCE (Focused Organized Retail Crime Enforcement). FORCE, established two years ago, includes multiple local law enforcement groups, special agents with the AG’s office, Michigan State Police, the FBI, Postal Inspection Service and retailers.

The AG’s office announced the FORCE Team investigation into an alleged auto theft ring in May 2024. Troy police have reportedly been investigating the crime ring since August 2023.

The four Detroiters, charged with conducting a criminal enterprise:

• Davonta Jones, 31 — also charged with eight counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle
• Donovan Tucker, 22 — also charged with eight counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle
• Davion Tucker, 21 — also charged with seven counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle
• Timothy Bell, 23 — also charged with 10 counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle

The four defendants are allegedly responsible for auto thefts on more than a dozen occasions in 2024, according to the AG’s Office. The crime ring “is suspected of using countersurveillance to steal vehicles quickly and efficiently, allegedly using violence and ramming security vehicles if confronted,” the AG’s Office stated.

Troy police, Detroit police and Michigan State Police executed four arrest warrants on Jan. 2, resulting in the arrests. A “large quantity of electronic key fobs and cash” were seized, according to the AG’s Office.

Jones, Donovan Tucker and Davion Tucker were arraigned Jan. 3 in Dearbor’s 19th District Court, where bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety. They’re scheduled for a probable cause conference Jan. 17. Bell was arraigned Jan. 3 in Monroe’s 1st District Court where bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety. He’s scheduled for a probable cause conference Jan.14.

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Multi-vehicle crash ignites fire in 3 cars on I-696 in Farmington Hills

Three vehicles caught fire Tuesday morning following a multi-car collision in Farmington Hills.

No injuries were reported.

Officials say Farmington Hills Fire Department personnel responded to the scene along eastbound I-696 at around 7:30 a.m. to find a three-vehicle crash. All the cars were on fire.

MSP troopers also responded to the scene.

The Oakland Press is working to obtain more information on the cause of the crash and drivers involved.

The roadway was shut down while fire department personnel extinguished the flames.

Cleanup continued as of 8:45 a.m., with one lane open. The freeway is expected to reopen fully as soon as possible.

Officials remind drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles working on the roadway.

The Oakland Press will update this story if more information becomes available.

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The felon accused of killing an Oxford Township woman who had stopped to help him after a car crash is expected to return to court next week.

Malik Webb, 29, is charged with felony murder for the slaying of clinical psychologist Barbara Wolf, and 18 other crimes including carjacking, assault with intent to murder and multiple firearms offenses for the Christmas Eve incident on Ray Road near Oxford High School. He’s scheduled for a probable cause conference on Jan. 6 before 52-3 District Judge Nancy Carniak, followed by a preliminary exam one week later.

Webb allegedly shot Wolf multiple times and two others — Wolf’s daughter and a 56-year-old Oxford man who had also stopped to assist Webb following the crash. Wolf died at an area hospital.

Webb is held in the Oakland County Jail.

At the preliminary exam, the judge will be presented with evidence and then determine if probable cause exists for the case to advance to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

Webb, who has a lengthy criminal history, was released from prison last July 1 after serving nearly six years for various weapons-related offenses.

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No official word yet on cause, manner of death for man who suffered blunt force trauma to head on Christmas Eve

Oakland County’s 2024 reported homicides up 44% since 2023

More than a week has passed since a Madison Heights man died after being found unresponsive lying on the ground with blunt force trauma to the head, but the manner and cause of his death haven’t been determined, officials said Thursday.

According to the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office, the death of Robert Cavanaugh was “still under investigation” as of mid-morning Jan. 2. Police have said they believe 68-year-old Rodney Beasley, also of Madison Heights, is responsible for Cavanaugh’s death — but no homicide charge has been filed. So far, Beasley has only been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for the Dec. 24, 2024 incident.

A GoFundMe account organized by Cavanaugh’s sister states that the attack happened when Cavanaugh tried to intervene after seeing a man beating a dog. As stated on the fundraiser page, Cavanaugh spotted the assault on the animal while riding his bike through the neighborhood, and when he tried to save the dog he  “was beaten to death with a pipe.”

Donations collected through the GoFundMe account were for Cavanaugh’s funeral expenses, and anything left over will be given to animal rescue organizations, it states.

To make a pledge, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/remembering-bobbys-brave-sacrifice.

As previously reported, Det. Lt. David Koehler of the Madison Heights Police Department’s most recent news release on the incident, issued Dec. 27, 2024, stated that once more information is obtained the case will be presented to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for updated charges. Information on any new charges will be released if they are authorized, he stated.

Beasley’s next court date for the assault charge is scheduled for Jan. 8 for a probable cause conference before 43rd District Judge Keith Hunt. Beasley is in the Oakland County Jail, with bond set at $100,000.

Oakland County’s 2024 reported homicides up 44% since 2023

Felony charges have advanced against a Farmington Hills man who reportedly barricaded for hours in a home while armed with a sword.

Brandon Mayfield, 41, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, ethnic intimidation and resisting/obstructing a police officer for the alleged Aug. 15 incident. The case was bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court this week for possible trial following a preliminary exam in 47th District Court.

Mayfield reportedly kept police at bay while holding a sword following an alleged altercation with a neighbor at an apartment building on Nine Mile Road. Ultimately, a SWAT team was called to the scene to assist Farmington Hills officers, and resorted to deploying a chemical agent which resulted in Mayfield’s peaceful surrender, police said.

According to police, the 28-year-old victim said he was confronted by Mayfield – who was reportedly armed with a knife and using racial slurs — after exiting a vehicle in the driveway of a neighboring house. While on the phone to police, the alleged victim reportedly heard a loud pop from Mayfield’s direction, which he believed was a gunshot. At that point, Mayfield was allegedly yelling racial slurs from outside his residence.

After Mayfield surrendered, a police search of his residence reportedly turned up numerous knives, swords, a rifle and a spent shell casing.

Arraignment for Mayfield is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2025 before Judge David Cohen. For now, he’s out on bond.

Report: Man allegedly found with vast amount of child porn incompetent for trial

A 66-year-old Bloomfield Township man accused of possessing a vast amount of child pornography has been determined to be not competent to stand trial.

Kenneth Roger Davies underwent court-ordered forensic evaluation after police searched his home last year and found a flash drive “with hundreds, if not thousands” of images containing child sexually abusive material, according to the Bloomfield Township Police Department. A report that he may be in possession of child pornography prompted the search, police said.

Davies was charged with six felony counts of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material, and Oakland County Circuit Judge David Cohen subsequently ordered psychiatric testing for him.

The order regarding Davies’ incompetency was filed Dec. 17, his court record shows.

A defendant can be found to be incompetent to stand trial if a mental condition prevents him from understanding the charges and court procedures, and from rationally assisting in his defense. The defendant can face the charges at a later date if competency is restored.