By Meg Peters
Review Co-Editor
One ‘sharp-eyed? 81-year-old Orion Twp. resident proved the neighborhood watch program on Walter Hall St. is working quite well.
At about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, the 81-year-old resident saw two suspects carrying a large, flat screen TV and other household items to their getaway vehicle, which was parked at the end of his driveway.
Upon eye contact, the suspects jumped into their green colored Jeep or Blazer and peeled out of the driveway, crushing the resident’s newspaper box.
The resident dialed 911, and checked his own house for missing property, and found none missing. Instead, he believed it was his neighbor’s house that had been infiltrated.
‘He’s an alert, sharp eyed resident, and that’s really what we want. People to notice what’s going on, and who don’t hesitate to call,? Orion Substation Commander Lieutenant Dan Toth, of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, said.
When Oakland County deputies arrived they discovered pry marks to the back door of the adjacent house, and tracks leading to where the getaway vehicle was parked. The owner was not home.
Deputies entered the house with the homeowner when he arrived to the scene, and confirmed multiple items were missing, including the flat screen TV, more than one handgun, jewelry, and other items.
Meanwhile, a ‘Be on the Lookout? alert and suspects? descriptions were forwarded throughout Oakland County.
The three suspects had only driven a few miles from the scene before they were picked up near the intersection of Joslyn and Clarkston roads.
The suspect in the backseat was holding a flat screen TV and was surrounded by other household items, including two handguns, a starter pistol, watches, jewelry, collector coins, electronic items, and pawn shop slips.
The two suspects in the front seats were the same the witness saw carrying the flat screen TV and other items to their getaway vehicle.
All three suspects were taken into custody.
Shortly after the traffic stop, a U.S. postal carrier pulled up and informed deputies something had been thrown from the car prior to the stop.
After searching the area, a loaded handgun was found along the safety path on Joslyn Rd. The handgun was reported stolen back in 2012 from Garden City, and is undergoing forensics and ballistic tests.
All evidence will be reviewed and considered as evidence for the trial.
The Oakland County Prosecutors Office authorized warrants for the two suspects sitting in the front seat, 30-year-old Pontiac resident Cassandra Model (also known as Cassandra Jackson) and 35-year-old Holly resident Jackie Maybee Jr. Both were arraigned at the 52/3 District Court in front of Judge Lisa Asadoorian and the next court date was set for Nov. 5.
There was not sufficient evidence to charge the backseat suspect, Toth said.
‘There is no evidence that he was in the home or participated in any of the planning,? he said.
Model is being charged with one count of first degree home invasion, one count of possessing a firearm, one count of carrying a concealed weapon, and one count of possessing a controlled substance, cocaine, under 25 grams.
Upon conviction, Maybee could be charged as a four-time habitual offender with a possible sentencing of up to life imprisonment. In addition to the home invasion charge, Maybee has previously been charged with three other felonies, He has convictions for home invasion, possession of drugs and unarmed robbery.
Toth said without the immediate phone call the perpetrators could have successfully fled Orion Township.
‘For every minute they’re about a mile away.?
Suspicious activity can be called into 248-858-4911, or 911.
‘Who knows better than the neighbors themselves of what is suspicious or out of place, so we recommend that people call, and that’s why when we solve these crimes its through partnerships with our residents,? Toth continued.
In a recent FBI report, Crime in the Unite States, the FBI determined Orion Township as one of the top 50 safest communities in Michigan according to violent crimes per resident.
Toth concurred.
‘Our crimes against people and violent crimes are very few and far between.?
No robberies or homicides were reported in 2014, and 34 burglaries were reported for unoccupied buildings, a 43 percent decrease from the previous year.
Toth said a few sexual assaults were reported, but they were for known perpetrators.
According to the report, the only two communities in Oakland County that had no single violent crimes were the Village of Oxford and Lake Angelus.
Pontiac has the most violent crimes per resident, with one violent crime for every 97.41 residents.