By Kara Berg, MediaNews Group

The mother of Oxford High School shooting victim Madisyn Baldwin said on Friday that she doesn’t see the $500,000 she accepted from the school district as a settlement — she sees it as an ultimatum from them.

Nicole Beausoleil, who sued Oxford Community Schools along with three other families for its role in a 2021 mass shooting, said she took the money from the district not because she was giving up on enacting change within Oxford schools, but because she had to think of Madisyn’s father and her three younger siblings.

“I felt (the $500,000) was the only measure I’d get from the tragedy to help them do everything they deserve to do,” Beausoleil said. “It was very hard for me to do. I really didn’t want to take it. I didn’t want it to show like I gave up, which I didn’t give up. I knew it was a take it or leave it type of deal. I felt in my heart I couldn’t make the decision only for myself.”

Beausoleil’s 17-year-old daughter Madisyn was one of four kids killed at Oxford High School on Nov. 30, 2021. Justin Shilling, 17, Tate Myre, 16, and Hana St. Juliana, 14, were also killed.

Beausoleil and Justin’s family were the only two to take the settlements. The Myres and the St. Julianas rejected it. The settlements were connected to federal lawsuits the families filed, alleging the district failed to protect students and downplayed the threat the killer posed to the school.

“I just want the change. I want people to see the bigger picture here, not look at this as two families gave up and took the settlement,” Beausoleil said. “It’s not a settlement, it’s an ultimatum. Take it or leave it, you have this many hours to decide. There wasn’t anything about it that was sincere or remorseful.”

The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December 2023, though he is appealing both the sentence and his guilty plea to the Michigan Supreme Court.

The panel of three judges from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded former counselor Shawn Hopkins and former dean of students Nick Ejak did not display a callous indifference toward the risk they perceived the shooter posed prior to the Nov. 30, 2021 attack and that Oxford schools had immunity and could not be sued. The wrongful death lawsuit was dismissed May 20.

Oxford Schools attorney Tim Mullins said the offer to the families before the 6th Circuit decision was $1 million, and it was lowered to $500,000 after that.

“We always try to reach a reasonable resolution of a disputed claim,” Mullins said. “We are pleased to have been able to do so at this point.”

Beausoleil said the district has only seen her daughter as a liability.

“I want her to be seen in a different light,” Beausoleil said. “I want this kind of just to be behind me and to keep moving forward to continue to create change. We’re going to constantly fight, there’s no stopping it.”

While she’s lost a lot of hope in the past four years, she said she plans to keep fighting for her children. She filed the lawsuit so she could see change in the district, so no one would have to feel the pain she and the other families felt.

“Our lawsuits were to create change, it wasn’t to create this sue happy, ‘oh need a bunch of money’ idea,” Beausoleil said. “We want systematic change. We want this change because there was neglect on all aspects.”

Madisyn’s younger sister Payton is starting her freshman year this fall, Beausoleil said. She’s going to Anchor Bay schools, and Beausoleil said she has gone through safety directives with the district. It’s heartening to see they’ve taken her suggestions to improve student safety, she said.

But still, the thought of Payton going to high school has taken a toll on Beausoleil, she said. The money will help to make sure Payton can go to college at an Ivy League if she wants to and to help her autistic brother.

Madisyn would’ve wanted that, Beausoleil said. She had planned to go into neuroscience to learn about autism and how the brain functioned.

“It’s not a lot of money, I’m not expecting the kids to live off of this,” Beausoleil said. “But it’s a start in the right direction of where it should’ve started in November 2021.”

By Charles Ramirez, MediaNews Group

A Clarkston man accused of leaving a sexually explicit note for a minor on a car in March has pleaded to charges, officials said.

Thomas Mellick Hensler, 38, entered a plea of no contest on Wednesday in Oakland County Circuit Court to accosting a minor, using a computer to commit a crime, and possession of methamphetamine, according to court records and the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

Hensler is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5 in the circuit court. The defendant will be sentenced as a habitual offender, serve time in prison and register as a sex offender, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in a statement Thursday.

In Michigan, courts treat no-contest pleas the same as guilty ones.

Hensler faces up to 10 years in prison for accosting a minor, up to 20 years for using a computer to commit a crime, and up to 10 years for drug possession.

Prosecutors initially charged Hensler with child sexually abusive activity, as well as using a computer to commit a crime and drug possession.

“The teenage victim was spending an afternoon shopping when her personal space and sense of safety were violated by Thomas Hensler’s criminal harassment,” McDonald said in a statement Thursday. “This outcome holds Henlser accountable and protects the victim from the stress of testifying in court.”

Hensler’s attorney, Patrick Gagniuk, was not immediately available for comment on Friday.

Authorities alleged the defendant left a note on a 17-year-old girl’s car at a Target store on Brown Road near Joslyn Road and Interstate 75 in Auburn Hills on March 18. They said he offered in the note to pay her for sexual favors and left a phone number.

Police texted the number and found the phone’s owner in the same parking lot, officials said. They searched the man’s vehicle and found drugs and sex toys in it, according to investigators.

Officers arrested Hensler and he was arraigned on charges the next day.

At the time, McDonald said Auburn Hills Police received multiple reports from parents about their children finding similar notes on their cars with the same phone number.

Hensler is the latest defendant to be accused of accosting a minor in Michigan.

Last week, a Trenton man was charged with accosting a child for immoral purposes and another crime after he allegedly tried to meet someone he believed was a 15-year-old girl but was an undercover police officer.

The same week, a former Michigan man was ordered to stand trial on two counts of accosting a child and four counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly sexually assaulting a child in Hillsdale County in 2008.

Last month, another former Michigan man was found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, accosting a child and several other charges.

A Clarkston man has opted out of trial on felony charges in connection with an offer to pay a teen girl for sex.

At a hearing Aug. 20 before Oakland County Circuit Judge Michael Warren, Thomas Mellick Hensler, 38, pleaded no contest to accosting/enticing a minor for immoral purposes, using a computer to commit a crime, and possession of methamphetamine. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. It can also offer some liability protection in civil cases.

Hensler reportedly left an explicit note with a sex offer on a 17-year-old girl’s car parked outside the Target store in Auburn Hills on March 18. The girl reported the incident to police, who then texted the number on the note and reportedly tracked it to Hensler — parked nearby in a car.

Methamphetamine and sex toys were found in Hensler’s car, officials said.

Hensler, a habitual offender with multiple convictions for possession of illegal drugs, made a plea deal with prosecutors that has him serving time in prison. He will be listed on the state’s Sex Offender Registry for life.

Clinton Township police say a drone proved to be an “invaluable tool” in helping officers arrest an accused armed arsonist earlier this week.

Officers Thursday released some of the drone’s video footage shot from above the suspect’s car, which showed he was in the vehicle before police swooped in to arrest the surprised defendant.

“The drone was an invaluable tool during this incident,” police said in a statement.

Cody Krantz, 23, of Clinton Township, was arraigned Tuesday, Aug. 19 in 41B District Court after he was charged with first-degree arson, home invasion, and malicious destruction of property.

Magistrate Ryan Zemke set bond at $500,000, court records show. Krantz is being held at the Macomb County Jail.

According to police, the incident happened shortly after midnight on Aug. 18 when officers responded to a call of an armed man setting objects on fire in an apartment complex near Joy Boulevard and Gratiot Avenue.

Police said during the investigation, an officer noticed the suspect’s vehicle was still in the parking lot.

That’s when officers deployed one the department drones. The drone pilot positioned the device one in front of the vehicle in order to see see potential occupants.

Officers observed the suspect sitting inside the vehicle “via the off-site in-car viewing monitor.”

With the drone still hovering over the vehicle, officers converged on the suspect and were able to make the arrest without resistance.

Investigators later determined multiple objects inside the apartment had been set on fire, including a portion of the structure itself.

Authorities also recovered a pistol from the car.

If convicted of the most serious charge, the arson allegation, Krantz could face up to life in prison.

The department again thanked the community for providing officers with funding for up-to-date training and equipment.

Earlier this month, voters approved a 10-year millage renewal on a 62.7% to 373% tally, according to the Clinton Township Clerk’s Office. Township Supervisor Paul Gieleghem said the renewal is expected to generate $9.6 million a year, or about one-third of the total police budget.

“With the continued millage support from our township residents, your officers have the proper tools and training to safely apprehend these dangerous and violent suspects,” the department said Thursday.

By Kara Berg, The Detroit News

The families of slain Oxford High School students Madisyn Baldwin and Justin Shilling have settled with the Oxford Community School District, former counselor Shawn Hopkins and former dean of students Nick Ejak for $500,000, despite an appeals court ruling that the district was protected by qualified immunity.

The district offered the $500,000 settlement to each of the four families whose children were killed in the November 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School, said Madisyn’s family’s attorney Wolfgang Mueller. Baldwin, 17; Hana St. Juliana, 14; Shilling, 17; and Tate Myre, 16, were killed by a 15-year-old student at the school.

The panel of three judges from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded Hopkins and Ejak did not display callous indifference toward the risk they perceived the shooter posed prior to the Nov. 30, 2021, attack and that Oxford schools had immunity and could not be sued. The wrongful death lawsuit was dismissed May 20.

“You had to look at the writing on the wall,” Mueller said. “Just knowing the way the panel had addressed the lawyers’ oral arguments in the Sixth Circuit, I knew it was going to happen. … It’s clearly not anywhere near adequate to make up for the harm, but the reality was, the cases were going to be dismissed.”

Oxford Schools attorney Tim Mullins said the offer to the families before the 6th Circuit decision was $1 million, and it was lowered to $500,000 after that.

“We always try to reach a reasonable resolution of a disputed claim,” Mullins said. “We are pleased to have been able to do so at this point.”

Mullins said Tate and Hana’s families rejected both offers and the ball is now in their court. Their lawsuits have been dismissed, but he said he’ll “never say never” to the possibility of an out-of-court settlement.

Madisyn’s family filed a motion Thursday to approve the settlement and allow the distribution of the money. A similar motion has not yet been approved in Justin’s family’s case.

Attorney Chris Desmond, who along with Ven Johnson represents the families of Tate and Justin in their lawsuit against the district, said Tate’s family declined the settlement but Justin’s family accepted it.

Steve St. Juliana, the father of victim Hana St. Juliana, told the Oxford Community Schools Board of Education to “shove” their $500,000 offer during a June board meeting. He said he was given less than 20 hours to consider the offer.

“That’s how little that you value our children,” St. Juliana told board members. “I don’t even know what to say. I mean, how can you not be embarrassed and ashamed? Not only of the offer, which is insulting, at the very least, but the manner in which it’s delivered.

“Well, I’ll deliver my answer right here. I am not going to stop striving for the changes necessary to save our kids,” he added. “So you can shove your offer.”

Lawsuits filed by victims and their families have alleged that the district failed to protect students and downplayed the threat the killer posed to the school. The shooter, Ethan Crumbley, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December 2023, though he is appealing both the sentence and his guilty plea to the Michigan Supreme Court.

His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, were both convicted of four counts each of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the four students their son killed. Both were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison and are appealing their convictions.

The families of seven students who filed the civil cases reached the effective end of their appeal attempts in May after the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear arguments in the case against Oxford Community Schools. A federal judge ruled in May that those cases also cannot proceed.

Michigan’s Court of Appeals ruled last month that Steve St. Juliana can sue Michigan State Police over his allegations that they should have done more to intervene and prevent the shooting.

Mueller said “everyone is disappointed in the amount” offered in the settlement.

“They’re more disappointed that the school district has never, ever accepted any responsibility for this,” Mueller said. “They’ve hidden behind qualified immunity, which is what got the case dismissed. They’re not happy in any respect.”

A man who reportedly attacked staff at a Planet Fitness in West Bloomfield on Wednesday morning, attempted to run over a police officer who responded to the scene, crashed into several patrol cars and then led police on a high-speed chase was eventually taken into custody, officials said.

The police officer and suspect appeared to have suffered minor injuries during the incident and were transported to an area hospital, officials said.

According to the West Bloomfield Township Police Department, detectives continue to investigate the alleged rampage which reportedly unfolded at around 9:30 a.m. when a 911 call reported a man was punching staff at the fitness facility, located at 6433 Orchard Lake Rd. While officers were enroute, they learned the man was charging at staff with a metal object, then exited the facility and got into a vehicle in the parking lot, where he was met by officers including one on foot who the man allegedly tried to run over.

The man then drove away — striking several police vehicles — leading officers on a high-speed pursuit which continued on a main roadway and into a residential subdivision, police said. After crashing into more patrol cars, the man’s vehicle was forced to a stop by officers and he was arrested, police said.

The Oakland Press reached out to the West Bloomfield Police Department for information on the suspect’s age and hometown, but neither are being released yet.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has more information on it is asked to contact Detective Michael Kozemchak of the West Bloomfield Police Department at 248-975-8999.

A Royal Oak man accused of fatally shooting a maintenance worker at the Devon Park apartment complex will be evaluated for competency, a judge has ruled.

Nathaniel Rockwell, 32, was referred for the psychiatric evaluation during a recent court hearing before 44th District Judge Derek Meinecke. Rockwell is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of felonious assault and three counts of felony firearm in connection with the July 31 death of Gregory Hill of Southfield.

According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, prior to the shooting, Rockwell — a tenant at the complex — had received an eviction notice due to multiple incidents with firearms. He allegedly confronted building management and another tenant who had reported him, got into an argument and then retrieved a gun from his vehicle and began firing at Hill. Hill was shot approximately 11 times at close range, the prosecutor’s office said.

Hill was working at the time of the shooting, the prosecutor’s office said.

Rockwell is held in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond. The judge set an Oct. 17 hearing to review results of the competency evaluation.

A Detroit man has admitted to being part of a criminal enterprise in connection with a southeastern Michigan auto theft ring that targeted storage lots, car dealerships and residences.

Jordan Tyler Gray, 23, entered a guilty plea Wednesday in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens for his actions from April 2024 to April 2025 in Warren, according to court records.

Judge Anthony Servitto is scheduled to sentence him Sept. 24.

The charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Gray’s attorney, Randy Rodnick, reached a sentencing agreement with Servitto for him to be sentenced to five years in prison, when Gray first will be eligible for parole, which is under the sentencing guideline range of six to 10 years.

Under the agreement, the sentence will be served simultaneously with any other sentence he might receive in other jurisdictions, records say.

Investigators from the Troy police Special Investigations Unit said they acted in partnership with the Macomb Auto Theft Squad in connecting Gray and two co-defendants to dozens of motor vehicle thefts, with larcenies occurring from the west side of Michigan east, extending as far as Massachusetts. Investigators said they utilized social media evidence, phone tracking and mapping, and surveillance of Gray to establish his involvement.

A search warrant executed at Gray’s residence on the day of his April 15 arrest yielded evidence such as numerous key fobs, a “significant amount” of cash, and a stolen Glock switch, officials said.

He is being held in the Macomb County Jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.

The criminal-enterprise charge against one of his co-defendants, a 22-year-old man, was dismissed last May by Judge Michael Chupa of 37th District Court in Warren, according to court records.

The case of a third defendant in the case could not be located in district and circuit court records.

MATS is composed of investigators from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office and officers from Center Line, Clinton Township, Roseville and Sterling Heights. The Troy Special Investigations Unit is composed of officers from the Auburn Hills, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Royal and Troy police departments. Both units work with officers from other agencies.

Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Jeff Hall is chief of the Auto Theft Unit at the county Prosecutor’s Office.

By Owen McCarthy, MediaNews Group

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard is cautioning against unsafe usage of drones by hobbyists at this weekend’s Woodward Dream Cruise, following “issues” law enforcement have seen with them in recent years.

Speaking at a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Sheriff’s Office in Pontiac, Bouchard said that though using drones to record videos of the Dream Cruise is a “fun hobby” for many, they can pose safety risks.

As such, Bouchard urged people to adhere to federal laws mandating drones are flown at no higher than 400 feet. At last year’s Dream Cruise, he said some drones were flying as high as 1,500 feet.

“Everything you can imagine will be out there,” Bouchard said. “Cameras, drones, helicopters, dogs, cars, motorcycles, horses, bikes, pedestrian controls.”

Thousands are expected to descend on Oakland County over the next few days for the Dream Cruise, an annual summer showcase of vintage cars. Billed as the largest one-day automotive event in North America, Saturday marks its 30th anniversary.

Bouchard also reiterated federal laws requiring that drones remain in the operator’s line of sight and that they aren’t flown over large crowds. Bouchard recommended people fly drones over buildings lining the Dream Cruise route, so that if it malfunctions, it falls on a roof rather than people.

Though it’s not a legal requirement, Bouchard requested that people fly drones around 200 feet, so as to avoid interfering with the law enforcement’s drones, used to monitor crowds and maintain “situational awareness” along the 20-mile Dream Cruise route.

One new approach law enforcement will be taking this year is the creation of a “multi-agency” center that will be based in Royal Oak during the cruise. Bouchard said the different agencies involved have always had “great communication,” but “not necessarily all in the same spot.”

The center will allow the communication to be “seamless,” he said.

Though the event can be a “challenge to police” because it includes nine Oakland County communities, Bouchard said law enforcement is prepared because of better coordination among agencies and the fact that police have been handling the event now for 30 years.

“It’s like a ballet,” he said, adding that some law enforcement stay posted at intersections along Woodward to clear the way for emergency vehicles in the event they need to cross the busy road.

For spectators, Bouchard urged people to limit alcohol consumption, and for participants to refrain from doing burnouts.

Many years ago, Bouchard said a driver at the Dream Cruise was tempted to do a burnout by spectators. The driver erred, lost control to the left, “hit the curb and flipped.” If the car lost control to the right, “people would have died.”

“This is not a place to show off your car’s capabilities,” he said. “It’s a place to show off how pretty it is, and how much work you put into it, and have a fun day.”

By Max Reinhart, MediaNews Group

A Birmingham man accused of insurance fraud has been bound over to stand trial, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Tuesday.

Todd Bernstein, 67, waived his preliminary examination and will be tried in the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac, Nessel said.

He is accused of “submitting misleading information on annuity suitability applications on behalf of his clients, who were over 65, to conceal that new annuities were being purchased with proceeds from early surrendered annuities.”

In July, Nessel filed four counts of insurance fraud against Bernstein. Each is punishable by up to four years in prison, if he’s convicted.

“Consumers must be able to trust financial professionals to act truthfully and in their best interests,” Nessel said when he was arraigned.

His next court date has not yet been scheduled.

Nessel urged Michiganians who suspect fraud to report it on the state’s website, or by calling the Department of Insurance and Financial Services at (877) 999-6442 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.©2025 The Detroit News. Visit detroitnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By Aya Fayad, MediaNews Group

Troy police are seeking tips following a theft of almost $60,000 in specialized riding wheelchairs from a Metro Detroit nonprofit.

Sometime over the weekend, a trailer with nine wheelchairs inside was stolen from The Agape Project, said Sgt. John Julian of the Troy Police Department. Each wheelchair is valued at about $6,500.

The department does not know the exact time of the theft, but the trailer was last seen on Friday and organizers discovered it was missing Monday morning, Julian said.

The group, which is based in Oakland and Macomb counties, hosts racing events for individuals with disabilities several times throughout the year. The trailer was stolen in the area of Livernois and Square Lake Road in Troy, jeopardizing their upcoming event in jeopardy, according to a Facebook post by secretary Kim Duda.

The Agape Project did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

In her post, Duda said that relatives had just participated in the Sterling Fast race, held in Sterling Heights, weeks ago and planned to participate in the Atwater Growler Gallop in September. If the chairs cannot be recovered, the 2025 race season will need to be suspended, she said.

The investigation is still in its preliminary stages and the Troy Police Department is asking anyone with information to come forward, Julian said. The department hopes to find who is responsible and get the equipment back.

Those who have information on the incident are asked to contact Troy Police Department officials at (248) 524-0777.

By JAIMIE DING, Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A fast-growing brush fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles.

The Canyon Fire ignited Thursday afternoon and grew to more than 7.6 square miles by 11 p.m., according to the Ventura County Fire Department. At least 400 personnel were battling the blaze along with several planes and helicopters. It remained uncontained late Thursday and was spreading east into Los Angeles County, officials said.

The fire is burning just south of Lake Piru, a reservoir located in the Los Padres National Forest. It’s close by Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area burned by the Hughes Fire in January. That fire burned about 15 square miles in six hours and put 50,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings.

Sunny, hot and dry conditions were expected in the area where the Canyon Fire was burning on Friday, with the daytime high near 100 degrees Fahrenheit  and minimum humidity in the mid-teens, according to the National Weather Service. Winds were expected to be light in the morning and grow from the south to southwest in the afternoon.

In LA County, around 2,700 residents evacuated with 700 structures under an evacuation order, officials said late Thursday. Another 14,000 residents and 5,000 structures were covered by an evacuation warning. Areas within the Val Verde zone had been reduced from an order to a warning.

The evacuation zones in nearby Ventura County were relatively unpopulated, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd said Thursday. Fifty-six people were evacuated from the Lake Piru recreation area.

Dowd called the blaze a “very dynamic situation” caused by hot, dry weather, steep and rugged terrain and dry fuel.

LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the district, urged residents to evacuate.

“Extreme heat and low humidity in our north county have created dangerous conditions where flames can spread with alarming speed,” Barger said in a statement. “If first responders tell you to leave, go—without hesitation.”

The new blaze comes as a massive wildfire in Central California became the state’s largest blaze of the year, threatening hundreds of homes and burning out of control in the Los Padres National Forest.

The Gifford Fire had spread to 155 square miles by Thursday night with 15% containment. It grew out of at least four smaller fires that erupted Aug. 1 along State Route 166, forcing closures in both directions east of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 people. It has injured at least four people. The causes of the fires are under investigation.

Wildfire risk will be elevated through the weekend across much of inland California as a heat wave gripping the area intensifies. August and September are typically the most dangerous months for wildfires in the state.

ATLANTA (AP) — Two Atlanta transit police officers were shot after they tried to confront a man urinating in a train station, investigators say.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police Chief M. Scott Kreher tells local news outlets that officials are looking for the man, who got away after shooting at the officers as they tried to arrest him late Thursday.

The shooting happened just before midnight at MARTA’s Five Points station, the downtown transfer point for the system’s trains.

Kreher told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the man became irate and refused to cooperate when officers approached him. Officers decided to arrest the man, but Kreher said he pulled out a handgun and shot over his shoulder at the officer. He grazed a female officer in the knee and struck a male officer in the arm.

The female officer has been released from the hospital but is also reporting hearing loss because she was so close when the gun was fired. Kreher said she is expected to fully recover. The male officer was undergoing surgery Friday for his arm injury.

Cameras show the man then got on a train and rode two stops south, throwing his gun on the roof of the West End station. Police haven’t publicly identified the man but say they know who he is and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force is looking for him.

The gun has been recovered.

The Five Points station reopened when trains started running Friday morning.

Suspect who ‘ambushed’ two Pennsylvania state troopers in shooting is dead, official says

The case against a Detroiter accused of fatally stabbing a man who was reportedly his friend has been bound over to Oakland County Circuit Court for possible trial.

At the conclusion of a preliminary exam Tuesday in 46th District Court, Judge Cynthia Arvant ruled there was probable cause to advance the case against Gregory Clark, 66.

Clark is charged with second-degree homicide for the death of 64-year-old Eddie Fisher Clora, who was stabbed in the chest on April 12 in Southfield. Clark had been charged with manslaughter, but the prosecution subsequently amended the charge.

Clora was fatally stabbed during a fight with Clark outside a BP gas station at Eight Mile and Lahser roads, police said. He died at Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital.Clora’s family identified Clark as the assailant based on video evidence, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office — and described the two men as friends. Clark turned himself in four days after the stabbing, the prosecutor’s office said.

Clark is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 6 before Oakland County Circuit Judge Nanci Grant. If convicted, he could face life in prison. For now, he’s in the Oakland County Jail with bond set at $500,000, requiring him to post 10% to be released.

Sheriff: 12-year-old car thief strikes again; mom of alleged accomplice notified detectives after seeing crime posted on Facebook

Accused of sex crimes against young kids, 70-year-old pleads to charges

Rochester police will soon have new cameras for officers and road patrol vehicles.

The city council unanimously approved a five-year, $345,363 contract with Axon Enterprises based in Scottsdale, AZ, for 20 bodycams and 10 in-car cameras, all of which have livestreaming capabilities.

Police Chief George Rouhib said the department has been using Watchguard bodycams but Axon’s cameras had advanced features.

In addition to better-quality images, the cameras include license-plate readers, an AI assistant, and redaction software. The contract includes a supplemental language translator which helps with up to 50 languages, he said.

More than three dozen languages are spoken by Oakland County’s residents who speak English as a second language, according to the U.S. Census.

“When the individual speaks into the camera, the software will identify the language and translate it into English and vice versa,” he said. “The software will also store our department policies, allowing officers to access critical information easily while in the field, ensuring compliance and informed decision making.”

He said the current cameras are out of warranty and cannot be repaired. The new equipment, he said, will be good for an estimated five years.

The in-cruiser cameras can also read license plates and alert officers to stolen cars.

All road patrol vehicles will have cameras, he said.

The city adopted bodycams in 2021 as a way to improve evidence collection and document police officers’ actions.

A 70-year-old man accused of sexually abusing two children in his family has opted out of trial with a plea in Oakland County Circuit Court.

At a pretrial hearing July 28, Southfield resident Lawrence Edward Miles pleaded no contest three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct for allegedly assaulting a boy and girl — both under 10 years old. According to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, the charges stem from a series of assaults that occurred in 2024 and 2025.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. It can also offer some liability protection in civil cases.

Miles is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 16 by Judge Daniel O’Brien. He faces up to life in prison for first-degree CSC, with a mandatory minimum of 25 years behind bars. Second-degree criminal sexual conduct carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison. Both convictions require lifetime electronic monitoring upon parole and AIDS/STD testing.

Miles is in the Oakland County Jail, denied bond.

3rd suspect in Oakland County purse-snatchings faces criminal charges

Fundraiser underway to support family of woman run over by truck outside Holly business

Prosecutor: Alleged human trafficker facing charges after victim escapes

A third person has been charged in connection with a string of purse-snatchings in Oakland County which also allegedly involves sibling co-defendants.

Snyomee Stanley, 21, of Taylor is facing felony charges of unarmed robbery and stealing/retaining a financial transaction device, along with third-degree retail fraud — a misdemeanor — for a crime reported outside the Marshall’s store in White Lake Township on July 9. An Oakland County special operations unit and Taylor police arrested her on July 24 and she was subsequently arraigned in 52-2 District Court in Clarkston.

Bond was set at $10,000 cash with a 10% provision, which allowed her to be released from jail after posting $1,000. She did that on July 28.

An ongoing investigation into multiple purse-snatching incidents in Oakland County tied Stanley to the White Lake crime. A brother-sister duo from Pontiac, Phylasia Rufus, 21, and Cartier Rufus, 20, are facing charges for similar incidents in retail parking lots in Auburn Hills and Commerce Township, and Cartier Rufus is facing charges for the White Lake Township incident along with Stanley. Stanley’s arrest information has been shared with law enforcement in Auburn Hills and Commerce townships, according to officials.

According to police, force was used to steal purses from female victims in at least two of the crimes, causing minor injuries.

Cartier Rufus was on parole for a similar offense at the time of his arrest, police said.

The Rufuses remain in custody at the Oakland County Jail.

Phylasia Rufus’ cases were recently advanced to Oakland County Circuit Court after she waived her right to preliminary exams in district court. Cartier Rufus’ next court appearance is scheduled for July 31. Stanley’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 7.

By Max Reinhart, The Detroit News

A 31-year-old man is in jail after his girlfriend told police he kidnapped her, hit her with a liquor bottle and threw her down a set of stairs.

Michigan State Police said the woman fled the man’s home and sought help at a nearby residence when he fell asleep.

At about 1:05 a.m. Friday, dispatchers received a report that a woman with “obvious injuries” was sitting on the porch of a home on Ithaca Avenue in Royal Oak Township, according to an MSP social media post.

Authorities said troopers arrived and found the woman with two black eyes and bruises and cuts on her body. She told police that her boyfriend had held her against her will at his home on Cloverdale Avenue for the last three days.

There, he allegedly took her cell phone so she couldn’t call for help, strangled her, struck her with a liquor bottle and threw her down the stairs when she attempted to leave. The woman told police she was able to escape when he fell asleep.

She was transported to a nearby hospital while troopers responded to the suspect’s home, according to the MSP post.

He initially refused to exit the house. Troopers first removed the man’s father and the suspect later complied with orders and was taken to the Oakland County Jail.

The suspect has not yet been identified by name. The case is under review by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, MSP said.

A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for an update on the case.

One of the three Lorain Police Department officers attacked in an ambush while having lunch has died.

“The Lorain Police Department is heartbroken to announce the line-of-duty death of Officer Phillip C. Wagner, who passed away surrounded by his family at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025,” according to a news release from the Lorain Police Department.

Wagner, 35, joined the Lorain Police Department in February 2022.

Prior to his service with Lorain police, he served with the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as the Sheffield Village Police Department.

From the very beginning of his career, Wagner was a respected and beloved member of our law enforcement family, the release said.

Known for his dedication, professionalism, and compassion, he exemplified the very best of what it means to serve and protect, the release said.

Wagner proudly served seven years in law enforcement, the release said.

Just two days before this tragic shooting, he achieved a significant milestone — earning his SWAT pin after a year of dedicated training and hard work, according to the release.

Despite the efforts of fellow officers, first responders and medical professionals, Wagner died of his injuries.

“Officer Wagner’s life and service to our city will never be forgotten,” said Lorain acting police Chief Mike Failing said in the release. “On behalf of the Wagner family, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has reached out in support.

“Our department mourns the loss of a true hero and stands in unwavering support of Officer Wagner’s family, friends, and fellow officers during this heartbreaking time. We ask the community to keep his loved ones in their thoughts and prayers as we come together to honor his memory, service, and ultimate sacrifice.”

Information regarding funeral arrangements and opportunities for public remembrance will be shared in coming days, the release said.

The shooter

Authorities have released the identity of the man they say shot three Lorain Police Department officers who were having lunch July 23.

As Lorain police officers arrived on the scene of the ambush that left two officers critically injured and one with a serious injury, they were met with significant gunfire from Michael Parker, 28, of Lorain, according to a news release from the Elyria Police Department, which is investigating the incident.

Officers returned fire during the exchange, which resulted in Parker suffering a fatal injury.

“This incident has deeply impacted all of us in law enforcement,” said Elyria Police Department Chief James Welsh. “Our hearts are with the officers who were injured, their families, and the entire Lorain Police Department during this incredibly difficult time.

“We want to extend our sincere gratitude to all of the agencies that responded swiftly and selflessly during this critical incident. The coordinated efforts of our regional law enforcement partners — including tactical teams, bomb technicians, patrol units and investigators — were instrumental in ensuring public safety, securing the scene and advancing this complex investigation.

“In moments of crisis, it’s the strength of our partnerships that carries us through.”

The shooting

The incident began at 1:04 p.m., when Lorain Police Department officers responded to a radio broadcast of shots fired by an on-duty officer in the area of River Bend Drive, according to a news release from Elyria police Capt. Bill Lantz.

Two of the Lorain police officers who were struck by gunfire by Parker were parked in their patrol cruisers eating lunch when they were attacked, the release said.

A third officer responded and was shot in the hand.

He’s since been treated and released.

The injured officers were transported to area hospitals.

Lorain police requested mutual aid prompting numerous law enforcement agencies, including tactical teams, responded and conducted a coordinated search of surrounding areas to confirm there was no ongoing threat to public safety.

Once the scene was secured, the Elyria Police Department Investigative Unit, with assistance from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, initiated an investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

Preliminary findings indicate that Parker had parked his vehicle near the dead end of River Bend Drive.

Located inside and around the vehicle were multiple high-powered rifles, handguns and a substantial quantity of loaded magazines, according to the release.

While securing the vehicle, law enforcement personnel saw suspicious baggage, raising concerns about possible explosive devices, the release said.

The Lorain County Bomb Squad was contacted.

Upon further inspection, bomb technicians discovered a significant quantity of improvised explosive materials within the vehicle, the release said.

The materials were safely removed and disposed of through a controlled detonation away from the crime scene.

Following this, BCI investigators began processing the scene and collecting evidence.

Initial analysis indicated that Parker fired a significant number of rounds during the course of the encounter.

Later that evening, investigators obtained a search warrant for Parker’s residence in the 1500 block of North Lakeview Boulevard in Lorain.

At 6 p.m., the Lorain County S.W.A.T. Team executed the warrant and bomb technicians cleared the property, confirming no explosive threats were present.

Anyone with information related to this incident is urged to contact Elyria police Lt. Tom Wade at 440-326-1362 or wade@cityofelyria.org.

Investigators continue to develop evidence to determine information that may shed light on Parker’s motives for the shooting.

“The Elyria Police Department remains committed to working with our partnering agencies to ensure a complete and professional investigation,” the release said. “Updates will be provided as the case progresses.”

Community response

The mood of the city is sober and grim as news continues to trickle through the community.

A vigil took place July 23 outside City Hall following the event and another will occur again late July 24 in honor of the officers.

The organizers of the Lorain Lighthouse announced the lights will be dark blue beginning July 31 in support of the officers who were attacked.

“We are sending our thoughts, prayers and support to the 3 officers, their families and the Lorain Police Department,” the organizers stated on social media.

Meanwhile, City Hall remains closed until July 28 in light of the tragedy.

The digital sign in front of City Hall states, “In these difficult times, keep Lorain Police in your thoughts and prayers.”

Flags on City Hall property are being flown at half-staff.

“Today, our community was rocked by the tragic shooting of three officers from the Lorain Police Department,” said Lorain County Prosecutor Tony Cillo. “As a prosecutor, I work closely with law enforcement every day, and I’ve seen firsthand the courage, integrity and selflessness these individuals bring to the job.

“Their sacrifice is a stark reminder of the dangers police face in service of public safety. To every officer who puts on the uniform despite the risks: thank you. We stand with you.

“And to the families of the injured, our hearts are with you as you navigate the road ahead. We honor their service. We demand accountability. And most importantly, we commit to supporting our law enforcement partners as they heal and continue the vital mission of protecting our community.”

Lorain City Schools also issued a statement on the incident.

“We are heartbroken by the events unfolding in our city today,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with the Lorain Police Department, our first responders, and the families affected by this tragedy.

“Lorain City Schools stands in full solidarity with the city of Lorain and our partners in law enforcement. Recognizing this difficult time, all district offices and school buildings will be closed on Thursday, July 24, and Friday, July 25. We ask our Titan community to keep our city in your thoughts and to support one another with care and compassion in the days ahead.”

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