A 9-year-old Detroit student says a substitute teacher directed other students to physically attack him, leaving him with a black eye, cuts on his face and a concussion. The Detroit Public Schools Community District says the substitute teacher has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is underway.

C'Antae Fleming, a fourth grader at Robert Burns Elementary-Middle School on Detroit's west side, says the incident happened on a Friday morning after the substitute teacher warned him to stay seated and away from the computer.

Watch the video report below: 9-year-old Detroit boy says substitute teacher had other students attack him

"That's when she just like, trying to tell the kids to handle me, like try to push me to my desk. That's what they were telling me to do and she said if I get up one more time, she's gonna get the kids to jump me," C'Antae said.

The 9-year-old says he was punched, held down and strangled by other students.

"Her hits just hurt and that's what hurt, so that's what made me sad and then the kids were choking me until my face was red," C'Antae said.

Watch our full interview with C'Antae and his mother Jay'Shelle below: FULL INTERVIEW: Jay'Shelle Warfield and her son C'Antae Fleming talk about the incident

His mother, Jay'Shelle Warfield, says she did not learn about the incident until C'Antae and his brother Chase got off the school bus that afternoon.

"Chase immediately comes to me. He says 'mom, C'Antae got hit today. C'Antae got hit by a teacher.' I say, 'who?'" Warfield said.

Warfield says the account was later backed up by another parent.

"My old neighbor called me, and her children just started there two weeks ago, and she said her children came home and told her 'momma, a little boy got punched by a teacher today and there kids were holding him and pinning him down,'" Warfield said.

Warfield says her son has a history of seizures, making the injuries to his head and face especially alarming.

"My son had seizures, so anything to his face or head, I'm gonna be concerned about. He has a history of seizures," Warfield said.

DPSCD provided a statement saying:

"Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) became aware of an incident involving a substitute teacher who allegedly engaged in misconduct after school hours. The individual has been placed on administrative leave and is not permitted to accept substitute assignments in any DPSCD school while the matter is under investigation. We take matters involving student safety extremely seriously. A thorough investigation is underway, and any findings will be referred to law enforcement."

Retired DPSCD Police Lt. David Wallace says incidents like this were rare during his time on the job but have become more common.

"Normally in my experience, the teacher was always in charge of the classroom and it comes down to classroom management," Wallace said.

Wallace says the pressures on educators today are significant.

Watch our full interview with David Wallace below: FULL INTERVIEW: Former Detroit schools police officer David Wallace on the incident

"Learning starts at home, so some of those traits that you have, you bring it into the classroom and then the teacher will have to deal with it. She has 25 or 30 other students with different personalities to deal with, and that's stressful for an educator," Wallace said.

"We all have to work together to ensure situations like this won't happen again."

C'Antae has not returned to school since the incident. His mother says she is working to enroll him elsewhere.

The investigation is ongoing. The substitute teacher cannot accept any substitute assignments while on administrative leave.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Detroit police officer is suspended and under investigation after a woman says he stole intimate videos and photos from her phone while she was in custody.

Samantha Thomason says the officer sent intimate videos and a nude photo from her phone to himself while she was detained following a traffic stop. Detroit police confirm the officer is under investigation and was arrested earlier this week.

Watch the video report below: Detroit officer arrested after woman says he stole her intimate images

"It is just kind of like scary to think that you're someone who is here to protect people, that's your job, that's what you're supposed to do, and yet you chose to do something like that," Thomason said.

Thomason says the incident began late Tuesday night when she first encountered the officer at a gas station on the city's east side. She was later pulled over at Harper and Morang avenue for driving without insurance and arrested on a probation violation warrant out of Canton.

Thomason says she suspected something was wrong after the officer got hold of her phone during the stop. She says she did not confirm what happened until she bonded out the following morning.

"When you initially first seen even the text just sent to the number, it was a sexual video off of my phone. So I already knew that was weird because I didn't have access to my phone at this time. The only people who had my phone were the two officers who arrested me," Thomason said.

Hear more from Samantha Thomason in the video player below: Samantha Thomason describes what she noticed about her phone following her arrest

Thomason says 12 items total were sent from her phone 11 videos and one photo.

She says she texted the unknown number from a different phone with a direct message: "I will be reporting you because you sent my nudes."

Thomason claims the officer then showed up at her home shortly after.

"My boyfriend's brother, the one who wasn't there when we got pulled over, he answered the door and he was asking the officer what's going on? And he was like, is Samantha Thomason here? I have a warrant for her arrest," Thomason said.

"He asked him to see the warrant, but he wouldn't show him the warrant," Thomason said.

The officer eventually left, and Thomason called 911 to report him.

Sources told me the officer has less than five years on the force and worked in the 5th Precinct's Special Operations Unit. He was still in custody at the Detroit Detention Center as of Friday afternoon. Internal Affairs is investigating.

Detroit police released a statement on the allegations:

"This matter is being actively investigated. The involved officer was arrested and conveyed to the Detroit Detention Center for processing. The alleged actions are concerning and do not represent the overwhelming majority of Detroit Police officers who maintain a high level of conduct and professionalism that they have sworn to uphold. The officer has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation, the findings will be submitted to the Wayne County Prosecutors Office for review."

Thomason says she wants the officer to face serious consequences.

"He should be in jail. He should, for one, definitely lose you should not be a police officer at all," Thomason said.

Once the investigation is complete, the Detroit Police Department will turn the case over to the Wayne County Prosecutor for a charging decision.

Mikey Brown, owner of Sloppy Chops restaurant, was shot and killed outside Suite 100 Bar and Venue on Detroit's west side, prompting the business to close and reigniting debate over late-night operating hours in residential neighborhoods.

Brown was gunned down outside Suite 100 around 4 a.m. last Saturday. Two others were injured in the same shooting. Detroit Police and Crime Stoppers are urging anyone with information to come forward, and callers can remain anonymous.

Watch the video report below: Detroit bar closes after shooting kills Sloppy Chops restaurant owner Mikey 'Mike B' Brown

His brother, Myron Brown, is making an emotional public plea for witnesses to speak up.

"My brother took care of a lot of people. He provided a lot of jobs. Now, I just ask that you guys help him out this one time and speak up," Myron Brown said.

Myron Brown described his older brother known throughout Detroit as "Mike B." as more than a successful business owner. He said Mikey Brown was a devoted husband, father, and a father figure to him personally.

Video: Myron Brown talks about his brother's impact 'He just wanted the best for everybody.' oMyron Brown talks about his brother's impact

"Our father passed when I was 1 year old, he was 5 years old. And my oldest brother was 10 years old. He taught me how to play basketball, he was always on me about my grades and my behavior," Myron Brown said.

Tributes for Mikey Brown flooded social media following his death.

Detroit Police are asking the public to help develop leads in the case. Detroit Police Department spokesperson Jasmine Barmore urged the community to act.

"Come forward, speak up, say something," Barmore said.

Crime Stoppers' Dan Bardino emphasized that tipsters will not be identified.

"Over the last 6 years, we've taken in 42,000 anonymous tips, and not one of those tipsters has ever been identified," Bardino said.

Brown's murder also reignited calls for Detroit to reconsider how late businesses can operate in residential areas. Per state law, bars and restaurants cannot serve alcohol past 2 a.m. and cannot stay open past 2:30 a.m. Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Calloway plans to take up the issue and says an enforcement crackdown is on the way.

Isiah "Zeek" Williams, from the community violence intervention group New Era Detroit, addressed City Council on Tuesday.

"When we get a lot of our stats back, most of the crime and violence happens late night," Williams said.

Williams said the conversation is not about targeting businesses, but about protecting neighborhoods.

"I talked to a lady the other day, she lives behind one of these after-hours spots. She told me she's trying to raise her kids here, and she has to worry at 3, 4, 5 o'clock in the morning if a fight is going to break out and people are going to start shooting while her kids are laying in bed. These are the types of situations that we are here standing up fighting for," Williams said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Detroit Police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. Callers can remain anonymous.

-

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A 13-month-old boy was found alive after spending nearly two days trapped inside a locked, impounded car at an Eastpointe tow lot. His father is now facing child abuse charges, and questions are being raised about whether police should have done more before the vehicle was towed.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Father charged after toddler found trapped in locked impounded car

Orlander Linson Jr. is charged with second-degree child abuse. He is accused of leaving his toddler son inside an illegally parked vehicle in Harper Woods last Thursday night. The car was impounded to an Eastpointe tow lot the following day.

The child was inside the vehicle from Thursday night until Saturday afternoon, when Detroit and Harper Woods officers discovered him crying, pinned between a car seat and the passenger door at the tow lot.

PREVIOUS STORY: Toddler found alive inside impounded car in Eastpointe lot; father in custody Toddler found alive inside impounded car in Eastpointe lot; father in custody

Earlier that day, the child's mother went to the Detroit Police Department's Ninth Precinct to report him missing. A detective learned Harper Woods Police had impounded her boyfriend's vehicle and suspected the toddler might be inside.

Harper Woods Police Chief Jason Hammerle said the officer who impounded the vehicle conducted a visual inspection but did not see the child inside. Because the car was locked, it was not thoroughly inventoried.

When I asked whether officers had lockout tools to check inside the vehicle, Hammerle said, "We do not possess those types of tools. I'm satisfied our officer followed policy in that incident. We cannot enter or damage locked vehicles, and he did a visual inspection from the outside I'm satisfied with that."

Hammerle did credit the Detroit detective who tracked down the vehicle.

"That detective did an outstanding job by locating the car, considering it wasn't quite registered to the suspect yet in this case," Hammerle said.

FULL INTERVIEW: Harper Woods Director of Public Safety details case where toddler was in impounded car FULL INTERVIEW: Harper Woods Director of Public Safety details case where toddler was in impounded car

Retired Detroit Assistant Police Chief Steve Dolunt believes Harper Woods Police should have done more.

"They couldn't get into it right away. From what I've seen in the past, all tow yards have a Slim Jim or some way to get into cars. Granted, the car wasn't flagged the officer thought it was just a routine impound. In this case, it was not," Dolunt said. "Fortunately, they got to it before the baby was deceased. So yeah, they dropped the ball."

In court, investigators pushed for a high cash bond, citing Linson's history and lack of a permanent address.

"Mr. Linson Jr. has 10 active warrants for his arrest, and he does not have a residence at this time," Deputy Chief Ted Stager said. "So if he does bond out, I'm concerned that he may be in the wind, and we have no way to find out where he would be."

Linson's court-appointed attorney, Davonne Darby, argued for a personal bond.

"Mr. Linson is employed at the Little Caesars Arena as a security guard. He also is a father of five, and he realizes that this is just a bad decision made in a split second, so we're hoping that he could have a personal bond so that he can adjudicate this case and get back to his family quickly," Darby said.

Police have not said what Linson was doing when he allegedly left his son alone in the car.

The child is recovering in the hospital and is in the custody of Child Protective Services. Linson is being held on a $100,000 bond and is due back in court March 11.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Taylor woman is facing multiple felony charges after a series of high-speed police pursuits involving four departments, nearly 40 calls to 911 over 12 hours and concerning statements made against officers.

Stacy Sears, 54, was given a $100,000 bond in court. The magistrate said she is a danger to the community.

Watch the video report below: Taylor woman held on $100K bond after police chases, flooding 911 with calls

The incidents began late Monday night in Trenton, where Sears fled during a traffic stop. Taylor police picked up the pursuit early Tuesday morning, but officers called it off to avoid endangering the public.

Detective Lt. Josh Schneider said Sears then called police herself before fleeing again.

"About an hour later, we actually received a call from her. She was calling wanting officers to respond to her location. Officers went back out and again, she fled from our officers a second time," Schneider said.

Investigators say that is when Sears began flooding 911 with calls, making disturbing statements that were revealed in court.

Schneider said the calls raised immediate alarm.

"She again continued calling our 911 system. She's affecting our dispatch and ability to answer other 911 calls that are coming in," Schneider said.

Watch our previous report about the chase below: Dashcam video shows chase that ended at Wayne County landfill; suspect had 9 guns in the car

The threats made in those calls were serious, according to investigators.

"Threatening to shoot them, to kill them if anybody were to come to her house. She was more than willing to kill the Taylor police officers if they were to respond," Magistrate Britney Carmona of 23rd District Court said.

That prompted Taylor police to launch an operation to take her into custody. The pursuit ended in a landfill in Huron Township, where the chase startled nearby residents.

"There were like 10 Huron cops in the driveway with their guns drawn, and he (my son) seen someone go by about 80 miles an hour. He was kinda scared," neighbor Holli Eramo previously told us.

Police found nine firearms in Sears' SUV, making the 911 threats even more alarming to the court.

"In one of her complaints, she indicated she had a shotgun, she had a scope. And lo and behold, one of the things recovered was a scope and that shotgun. So I don't think these were mere threats. I think she was very much able to carry out those threats," Carmona said.

Watch dashcam video of the chase below: Dash cam video shows chase that ended at Wayne County landfill; suspect had 9 guns in the car

Carmona also ordered a mental health assessment for Sears.

Schneider said mental health is a concern shared by Sears' own family.

"Definitely a concern for mental health. We did speak to some family. They also had concerns, confirming our suspicions. Hopefully, she can get the help that she needs," Schneider said.

Sears is charged with fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, carrying a concealed weapon and misuse of 911.

She could face additional charges related to the threatening statements made during those calls. Investigators are reviewing the recordings and will turn them over to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for a charging decision.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Ypsilanti police raided a downtown vape shop in mid-February after months of complaints that children were buying marijuana there and authorities say the store wasn't even licensed to sell it.

Officers shut down Ypsi Smoke and Mart, chaining and padlocking its doors. Inside, police seized marijuana packaged in ways that Police Chief Tim Anderson says could easily fool parents.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report below: Police say Ypsilanti vape shop was selling marijuana to kids in candy-inspired packaging

"Again, if you pay attention here this packaging. Got Slimer here. This is what some of the young kids are carrying around. At first glance, you may think this is candy or cookies and cream, but what's really inside is THC, marijuana," Anderson said.

Anderson said the shop was allegedly selling marijuana to children who may have been coming from school or the nearby transit center.

"It was being distributed to children, maybe as they came from school or left the transit center. We were able to substantiate some of those claims through investigations, which led us to the vape shop," Anderson said.

The shop had a sign on its door stating customers must be 21 or older to enter.

Some customers said they were shocked to learn marijuana was being sold inside at all.

"I didn't even know they sold marijuana," Russell Shropshire said.

Lee Tooson, who frequents the area, said he was not surprised by the enforcement action.

"Police were saying that they believe the shop was selling weed to kids. I wouldn't doubt it from what I saw coming in and out of here, it was nothing but kids. A lot of little kids. They jump off that bus and come over here and crowd around," Tooson said.

Ypsilanti parents Halie Gatz and Xavier Anderson said the allegations left them stunned.

"It's irritating because what if my child was 15 or a little older, and next thing you know, he comes home and says, 'Mom, look what I got.' Like, no," Gatz said.

"That's kind of messed up because you never know what kid might walk in there, then come home to their parents looking all high and can't do anything for themselves. Next thing you know CPS is calling and kids get taken because they came home high," Xavier Anderson said.

Calls to the listed owner of the building were not returned.

Chief Anderson said the bust should serve as a warning to other smoke shops in the area.

"We take these complaints seriously, we're going to investigate, and we have no problem coming in and shutting you down when you're involved in illicit and illegal activity," Anderson said.

Police say this is an ongoing investigation. Their report has been forwarded to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office for review.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Three men, including two Marine veterans, were found bludgeoned to death in a Detroit home's basement this week, with police arresting a 27-year-old suspect who has connections to the victims.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video reports: Tip leads to arrest in Detroit triple murder Marine veterans among 3 men found dead in Detroit basement homicides

The bodies of 66-year-old Norman Hamlin, 72-year-old William Barrett, and 65-year-old Mark Barnett were discovered Wednesday in the basement of Hamlin's home on Edsel near Schaefer and I-75 in southwest Detroit. Police believe the men were killed sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison confirmed officers arrested a suspect Thursday afternoon after receiving a community tip that the suspect was in the 1400 block of West Vernor.

RAW VIDEO: Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison updates triple murder investigation RAW VIDEO: Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison updates triple murder investigation

"We believe that the suspect has a connection to the victims," Chief Bettison said.

The 27-year-old suspect is currently on parole, with past crimes including carjacking, armed robbery, fleeing police, and resisting and obstructing officers.

During the arrest, police recovered a vehicle near the suspect's home that could play a crucial role in the case.

"Inside the vehicle, we found evidence that we believe is connected to these homicides," Chief Bettison said.

A missing persons report led officers to Hamlin's home. Both Hamlin and Barnett were Marine veterans.

Caroline Stackhouse, Barnett's ex-wife, who was married to him for eight years before their divorce in 1992, said she had a gut feeling something was wrong when a neighbor told her about the gruesome discovery.

"I'm still trying to process it, you know, even though we wasn't together, but he still was my, he's the father of my child, so, still trying to figure that one out," Stackhouse said.

When she heard about the incident, Stackhouse immediately told her son to call his father.

"Cause I knew in my heart, in my spirit. But I didn't want to believe it," she said. "And then, later on that day, we found out it was him."

FULL INTERVIEW: Caroline Stackhouse talks about her ex-husband and the murder investigation FULL INTERVIEW: Caroline Stackhouse talks about her ex-husband and the murder investigation

Stackhouse said she and her son are now preparing for Barnett's funeral. Her son has been struggling with the news.

"He broke down, yeah, off and on. He was breaking down, so. He's gonna take it hard. I know he is, he's gonna take it real hard," she said.

Despite not knowing the circumstances surrounding the crime, Stackhouse hopes for justice.

"I don't know the people that he was with or the person that might have done it. I don't know none of that stuff, but I just hope everything come to a closure," Stackhouse said.

Police say this triple homicide was an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public. The homicide task force, comprised of Detroit and Michigan State Police detectives, is working to get a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for a charging decision.

The investigation remains active.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Two young men died, and several others were hospitalized after being exposed to toxic gas during a well-cleaning job in St. Clair County on Tuesday afternoon.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: 2 men die from toxic gas during well cleaning job in St. Clair County

Michael Kammer Jr., 21, and Daniel Hagle, 20, were working at a recently sold home on Cribbins Road in Clyde Township when a chemical reaction created deadly hydrogen sulfide gas in the confined space beneath the home's porch. The families of Kammer and Hagle have started GoFundMe campaigns for support. You can donate at the links for each of their names.

"I collapsed, I couldn't breathe. I couldn't do nothing. I just froze. No mother should have never had to see that," said Jenny Kammer, Michael's mother, who watched as first responders retrieved her son's body.

Jenny Kammer and her husband, Michael, were too shaken for an on-camera interview, instead sharing their grief over the phone.

"He didn't have any clothes on. They brought him out naked because of all the chemicals on his clothing from the well," she said.

The workers were using muriatic acid to clean the well, a job Michael Kammer Jr. had been doing since his teen years, according to his father.

"This has been apparently a substance they used in the past, but this was a confined space, so when the acid interacted with a mineral or chemical in that well, it off-gassed," said St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King.

When Hagle saw Kammer become unresponsive, he called for help and then went into the well to try to rescue him. The hydrogen sulfide gas quickly overwhelmed both men.

"He saw his partner go down, and it was unresponsive to him calling for him, and he tried to get him out of the wells, and when he went in there, he was then in that confined space, and he was overwhelmed by the gases as well," King said.

First responders knew the scene was dangerous the moment they arrived.

"The deputies, at first, wanted to try to help, but they could smell gas from where they exited their vehicle near the road and realized they could obviously be overcome by these fumes as well. They had to back off until fire was able to get on scene and have the proper PPE to enter the area," King said.

Three other men working at the home were hospitalized for gas exposure and are expected to recover. Several first responders at the scene were decontaminated at a local hospital as a precaution.

Both Kammer and Hagle were rushed to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The medical examiner's office is still working to determine the official cause of death.

The families are now mourning and holding onto memories of their loved ones.

"He would give his shirt off his back to help anybody. He was engaged to get married later on this year," Jenny Kammer said.

"It's tragic, you know, we have two young men that were out working, working hard, you know, trying to make their way, and unfortunately, like I said, that variable of the confined space seems to be the difference," King said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Federal immigration officials have purchased a vacant building in Romulus and plan to convert it into a detention facility, sparking concern among residents and local officials about the project's impact on the community.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: ICE facility plan in Romulus sparks concern as officials tout economic impact

The facility would be housed in the former Gage Marketing Group headquarters. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says the project will create nearly 1,500 jobs and contribute $160 million to the GDP while roughly $33 million in tax revenue.

However, the plan has drawn fierce opposition from some residents and elected officials who worry about the facility's effects on their neighborhood.

"Other than human rights violations, other than the fact that they always tell us yeah, we can't build affordable housing, we can't fix the economy, but we can do this," Michael Calabrese said.

State Sen. Darrin Camilerri criticized the federal government's approach to the project.

"This has not been authorized by the local government or the state government or the county government. Our city doesn't want this here," Camilerri said.

Hear more from Darrin Camilerri below: Sen. Darrin Camilerri shares his opposition for ICE facility plan in Romulus

Camilerri said officials are researching potential local actions, including ordinances or resolutions, to address community concerns.

"The thing that is most clear is that residents need to speak out, peacefully protest and do what they can to lift up their voice to say that we don't want ICE in our communities," Camilerri said.

Some residents expressed concerns about potential protests disrupting daily life, referencing recent demonstrations in Minneapolis following immigration enforcement actions and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

"You're bringing it to the wrong town. Setting it up in a residential area like that, you're endangering folks, you're endangering this community," Debra Singal said.

"My biggest fear is if a bunch of protesters start blocking the street out there, how am I going to get to work and get her (child) to day care? Outside of that, I don't think it's really going to affect me," Joel Shaeffer said.

Judith Frederick worried about the long-term impact on the community, saying, "Nobody is going to want to move here if this is here. Everybody's already scared and it's not even here yet."

However, the facility has some supporters. Sunny Reddy, co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, said she would feel comfortable living near the law enforcement facility.

"Everybody says they need to have a due process, and that's what they are. We are trying to create, the federal government trying to create the facility, so that they can be placed there while they are going through the due process," Reddy said.

Hear more from Sunny Reddy below: Michigan GOP Co-chair Sunny Reddy talks benefits of ICE facility plan in Romulus

In a statement, ICE said it is targeting "criminal illegal aliens including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, gang members and more." The federal agency claims 70% of its arrests involve people charged or convicted of crimes in the U.S., though that figure has been contested.

"That is not accurate based on their own data. The data that I've seen most recently says 70 percent have zero criminal record at all and so we're not talking about folks who are doing hard crimes. Nobody wants those types of individuals in your neighborhood. But we're talking about, literally, small business owners," Sen. Camilleri said.

ICE says the new facility will follow strict detention standards while bringing significant economic benefits to the area.

Congressman Shri Thanedar has launched a petition aimed at stopping the detention facility project.

The Romulus City Council is scheduled to meet Monday, Feb. 23. While it's unclear if the ICE facility will be on the agenda, some residents plan to voice their concerns about the project.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Scammers are posing as legitimate tow truck companies online, taking money from stranded drivers and leaving them without help, according to a local wrecker service owner who has seen multiple cases in recent weeks.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Scammers posing as tow truck companies are demanding hundreds up front

Bill Byers, owner of Byers Wrecker Service in Rochester, said one customer sat on a dirt road north of Rochester for six hours after paying more than $300 to what he thought was a legitimate towing company. No truck ever arrived.

"These people are calling them on the phone and they're going, 'we can send somebody out but it'll be a $300 charge prior to us coming out up to $600, I've even heard more," Byers said.

Extended interview: Bill Byers explains how drivers are falling victim to scammers WEB EXTRA: Bill Byers talks about towing scams and how to protect yourself

Byers started noticing this scam about two weeks ago. He said stressed drivers are calling companies they find through Google searches, but the addresses listed sometimes aren't actual tow lots.

The scam almost always begins with a demand for hundreds of dollars upfront, according to Byers.

"No legitimate towing business should ask money up front on a credit card," Byers said.

He explained that while some companies do require upfront payment to prevent customers from leaving before the truck arrives, legitimate fees should be $50 to $75, never $300, $600 or $900.

Byers said suspected scammers sometimes call trusted towing services like his, posing as customers or roadside assistance companies requesting a tow. However, these callers have already collected payment from the actual stranded driver.

"We went to a house up in Orion Township for a classic car and the gentleman said he already paid $392 to have his car towed, and it was only being towed two blocks two miles it was within a small area, and when we got there to collect he said I already paid, well we didn't get paid," Byers said. "So here we are, and we told him, 'you need to call and stop that transaction because this scam is going on.'"

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office Computer Crimes Unit is actively investigating the scam.

"Any time they can get some kind of electronic payment or some other kind of methodology to get you to send them money without services, they're all about it," Sheriff Mike Bouchard said.

Bouchard said some scammers are even intercepting calls intended for legitimate tow truck companies.

"Our computer crimes unit is kind of evaluating and trying to examine the whole situation to determine, you know, where the security breach is that Google is now sending them or calling the wrong number with the wrong party on the other end," Bouchard said.

If you suspect you're being targeted by a scammer, hang up, don't pay over the phone, and look for another tow truck company. You can also call your local police or sheriff's department to connect you with a legitimate towing company.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Detroit woman who says she was shot six times by a police officer during a traffic stop is fighting back in federal court, suing the city and the officer for $25 million.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Woman shot 6 times by Detroit police officer files $25 million federal lawsuit against city

Tracey Allen claims the shooting was unjustified and says she's dealing with both physical and emotional scars from the October incident.

"I'd be lying if I told you I was okay. Mentally, I'm not. Physically, I'm not," Allen said.

Allen showed where she was struck four times in one arm, but she and her attorney say it's the scars you cannot see that she'll live with the rest of her life.

"This case is not about being anti-police, it's about accountability," said Maurice Davis, Allen's civil rights lawyer.

The incident began when officers pulled Allen over on Van Dyke and Savage for speeding, excessively tinted windows, and an obscured license plate.

"I asked for a supervisor several times, he didn't give it to me, so I dialed 911. I told the operator I feared for my life and to stay on the phone with me," Allen said.

VIDEO: Watch the press conference in its entirety: Press Conference: Woman files lawsuit, seeking $25 million after being shot by DPD six times

According to the lawsuit and the Detroit Police Department, the officer called for backup instead. The suit claims that the same officer pepper-sprayed Allen after trying to forcibly remove her from her SUV. Allen drove away, and police caught up with her and tried to box her in on Outer Drive near Concord.

"He had already got his gun out, so I thought I was gonna get shot in my head. So he moved from the front to the side as he moved to the side, he asked me to get out the car twice. I shook my head no. That's when he began to shoot my truck up. As he shot my truck up. I pulled off. I didn't know I was hit until I got to the light."

Allen was shot six times.

VIDEOS: Watch our previous coverage on the shooting below: Detroit officer suspended after shooting, chief says policy violations under investigation

The Detroit Police Department declined to provide a statement, saying it does not comment on pending litigation. But Chief Todd Bettison was noticeably frustrated when he briefed the press on the shooting last fall. Body-worn camera footage of the incident contradicted what he was initially told about what happened. Bettison says the officer violated several department policies.

"She did give her license, she did give her registration, her insurance was on her phone. If a supervisor had been called, I don't think it would've went this way," Bettison said in October. "When individuals follow the policy as they're supposed to, you don't have incidents like this."

The officer is still on the force but has been suspended without pay since early November.

Marc Curtis, the officer's defense lawyer, offered a statement saying:

It is important that the facts be fully reviewed before any conclusions are drawn. An officer's actions must be evaluated based on what was known at the time, not through the lens of hindsight. We will continue to cooperate with investigators and trust the process will provide the necessary context.

The State Police Homicide Task Force investigated the shooting and sent its findings to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for a charging decision in late November. The prosecutor's office says it's still reviewing the case.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Tensions over immigration enforcement escalated across Southeast Michigan as hundreds of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools students staged a walkout Tuesday afternoon in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, while religious leaders from multiple faiths called for defunding the federal agency.

The student demonstration, captured by aerial footage, represents the latest in a series of protests against ICE agents operating in the region. The walkout coincided with the White House's announcement that it would pull back 700 of the 3,000 immigration enforcement officers deployed in Minnesota.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report below: Plymouth students protest ICE as religious coalition demands defunding

At St. Paul's Episcopal Church, roughly 60 Episcopalian priests, Jewish rabbis and Muslim imams gathered to condemn what they described as immoral immigration enforcement tactics. The interfaith coalition called on lawmakers to cut funding to ICE, citing concerns over the agency's methods and the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

"This may be beginning with immigrants, but if the administration has its way, it surely won't stop there," Rabbi Nate Degroot, director of the Shalom Center, said.

The religious leaders and Christy McGillivray, executive director of Voters Not Politicians, argued there was no room for compromise on the issue.

"Any deal for reform is delusional. ICE agents have violated nearly 100 court orders from just one single Minneapolis judge in the past few months," McGillivray said.

"To spend our public dollars on the systematic abuse of our communities is morally repugnant," Rev. Jill Zundel, pastor emeritus at Central Methodist Church added.

Web extra: Clergy members in metro Detroit talk about impact of immigration enforcement Web extra: Clergy members in metro Detroit talk about impact of immigration enforcement

The enforcement crackdown has impacted local businesses serving immigrant communities, including Maty's African Cuisine. Owner Amadi Gueye said customer traffic has dropped significantly as fear spreads through the community.

"They don't come here to buy food anymore. Everybody's scared. They stay home," Gueye said.

Gueye said his nephew and brother were detained last week, adding to what he described as widespread arrests in the African community.

"This past three weeks, they've taken over 20 people 20 African people," he said.

While Gueye said he could support ICE funding if agents focused solely on criminals, he believes the current operations are targeting law-abiding residents.

"ICE in the beginning, they say they're looking for criminals, but now they are catching good people," Gueye said.

Sunny Reddy, co-chair of the Michigan Republican Party, defended the enforcement actions.

"I strongly support ICE, what they're doing. They're not targeting an individual; they're targeting the people who violated the law," Reddy said.

The Oakland County Republican Party released a statement criticizing the faith leaders' press conference, calling it "another troubling escalation in the radical left's campaign to delegitimize lawful federal immigration enforcement and undermine respect for the rule of law."

The statement compared the movement to "the failed and destructive 'defund the police' movement of 2020, which prioritized slogans over solutions and left communities less safe as a result."

You can read the full statement below:

The increasingly extreme rhetoric coming out of todays so-called ICE Out Interfaith Press Conference marks another troubling escalation in the radical lefts campaign to delegitimize lawful federal immigration enforcement and undermine respect for the rule of law. Recent tragedies involving federal immigration officers are undeniable and deeply serious. As Brian Szmytke, Senior Advisor to the Oakland County Republican Party noted, Any loss of life is tragic, and those incidents deserve to be investigated fully and transparently. But we also have to be honest about what has fueled this moment. These tragedies did not occur in a vacuum. They are the foreseeable result of years of dangerous rhetoric from the far left that portrays law enforcement officers as villains and encourages confrontation instead of compliance. Rather than working to lower tensions, organizers of todays event chose to double down on that rhetoric by branding a federal law-enforcement agency as lawless and out of control. According to Szmytke, That kind of language is reckless. When activists and political leaders tell people that law enforcement itself is illegitimate, they create an environment where resistance is celebrated and violence becomes more likely. Words have consequences. This approach mirrors the failed and destructive defund the police movement of 2020, which prioritized slogans over solutions and left communities less safe as a result. We have already lived through the real-world consequences of demonizing law enforcement, Szmytke added. Now we are watching the same playbook get recycled, this time targeting federal officers who are doing the job Congress assigned them.

"We are not calling for open borders, we are not calling for the end of law we are calling for an end to masked militarized immigration enforcement inside our communities," Rev. Josephy Alsay, dean of St. Pauls Cathedral, said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

About 200 people gathered on Detroit's west side Friday to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection actions, saying immigration enforcement is tearing families apart and targeting the wrong people.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: National protest against ICE reaches Detroit's west side

The demonstration at 7 Mile and Telegraph drew protesters to a neighborhood many African immigrants call home, as part of hundreds of protests across the country following unrest in Minnesota and the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents.

WEB EXTRA: Chopper video of ICE protest in Detroit on January 30 Chopper video of ICE protest in Detroit on January 30

"It is very rare that communities center Black migrants. So for us to be here in Black Detroit, centering other Black folks living here that have an accent, so we feel seen," Dr. Seydi Sarr said.

Some protesters say they've been personally impacted by the Trump administration's mass deportation effort.

"They take one of my nephew yesterday... and they take my brother the day before yesterday," Amady Gueye said.

"We will not continue on with business as usual. We will not look away while you terrorize our communities," Sarah Williams said.

Nabih Ayad from the Arab-American Civil Rights League described disturbing scenes involving children.

"A five-year-old is left crying while his parents are being arrested," Ayad said. "Children being ripped from their parents while they're having seizures."

Earlier Friday, leaders from civic, faith, and labor communities, along with NAACP Detroit Branch President Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, called for accountability measures, including no new funding for ICE, body cameras for agents, and an end to federal immunity.

WEB EXTRA: NAACP Detroit Branch holds press conference following recent ICE actions NAACP Detroit Branch holds press conference following recent ICE actions

"The current ICE policies exercised in America remind us of 1939 Germany, today's Russia, China, North Korea, and the old southern America... as they attacked, lynched, and kidnapped African Americans simply trying to register people to vote," Anthony said.

The group is urging politicians on both sides of the aisle to take action.

"Several of the Democrats have stood up and said something about it," Anthony said. "But it's the Republicans we have not heard from."

However, Sunny Reddy, co-chair of the Michigan GOP and himself an immigrant, sees the situation differently.

"I strongly support peaceful protest there's no question about it but at the same time let ICE do their job," Reddy said. "I strongly support ICE they're not targeting an individual, they're targeting people who violated the law."

"If someone is going against the law, even if they are officers, they should be investigated, and there should be action taken against them," Reddy said.

Statement from Vance Patrick, Chair, Oakland County Republican Party:

Oakland County residents are witnessing yet another example of the radical left putting political theatrics ahead of the rule of law. The so-called nationwide shutdown planned for today is nothing more than a petty, childish temper tantrum over the federal government enforcing immigration laws that are already on the books and were duly passed by Congress. This kind of behavior is sadly familiar. We saw it in 2020 with the reckless defund the police movement, when progressive extremists openly sided with chaos over public safety. The results were predictable and damaging: rising crime, demoralized law enforcement, and communities left less safe. Now, the same radical mindset is reappearing, this time attacking the lawful enforcement of our immigration system. Lets be clear. Enforcing the law is not radical. Ignoring it is. Encouraging shutdowns, disruption, and disorder because you disagree with existing law is not principled protest; it is lawlessness dressed up as activism. Democrats continue to signal that rules only matter when they align with their ideological preferences. Voters across Michigan, and especially here in Oakland County, are stunned by how quickly this extreme worldview is becoming mainstream within todays Democratic Party. Working families want stability, safety, and a government that takes its responsibilities seriously. They do not want childish stunts that undermine confidence in our institutions and disrupt the lives of people who are just trying to go to work and provide for their families. The Oakland County Republican Party stands firmly for the rule of law, public order, and responsible governance. We will continue to call out radicalism wherever it appears and advocate for policies rooted in common sense, accountability, and respect for the laws that hold our nation together.

ICE and Customs and Border Protection fall under the Department of Homeland Security. I reached out to DHS for comment, but received no response.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. Where Your Voice Matters

A Detroit bus company owner's decision to offer rides to students walking to school in frigid temperatures has ignited a community debate about child safety, sparking warnings from school officials and dividing parents on social media.

Watch Randy Wimbley's video report: Detroit yellow bus owner's cold weather student rides spark safety debate

Darrell Beaver, owner of EllaMin'OP Transportation, said he stopped to help students walking to school on one of the coldest mornings of the year, Wednesday. Beaver spotted the children while driving his contracted route to Braniacs Clubhouse Child Development Center on Detroit's east side.

"I just jumped into help mode. Like, it was freezing. Again, I was in a bus for over an hour, and my feet were froze, so I felt bad to see these kids walking," Beaver said.

The gesture prompted Detroit Public Schools Community District officials to send a robocall and mass text, warning families not to let students board unauthorized buses. Beaver does not have a contract with Detroit Public Schools to transport children.

"At this time, we don't have any evidence to suggest he had any nefarious intent, but really focusing on never encouraging students, children to get into vehicles with people they don't know, regardless of the type of vehicle it is," said DPSCD Police Chief Labrit Jackson.

Jackson expressed concerns about liability and said Beaver's actions could set a dangerous precedent.

"The next person who's watching this now, we've given him an idea, we've planted a seed that they can use as a, no pun intended, but a vehicle to have access to our children," Jackson said.

Parent Diane Longmire, who was in the pickup line at Fisher Magnet Upper Academy, where Beaver said he dropped off a student with her mother's permission, Wednesday morning, emphasized the need for caution.

"We just need to be careful about our children. That's why I brave the cold, that's why I'm here, so when she comes right out that door, she comes right into this car," Longmire said.

However, parent Tamika Jimerson, who supports Beaver and his efforts, said she doesn't have that luxury. She planned to accept Beaver's offer to take her children to school on Thursday, but he backed out after the online backlash and district warning. Jimerson's children attend a non-Detroit Public Schools charter school without bus service, and she does not have a car.

"I was kinda like, I wasn't mad, but I was just like hurt cause we was really trying to go to work and school," Jimerson said.

Jimerson said ride-sharing services are too expensive for her budget.

"Lift is $50. I don't have $50 to get to school, to get them to school at 6-something in the morning," Jimerson said.

Beaver acknowledged the concerns but defended his intentions.

"I don't get a dime for it. Again, I understand everyone's concerns, but my intentions are not bad at all," Beaver said.

DPSCD is urging families that need help getting their students to school to contact its transportation call center: (313) 945-8600.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.